Following the cancellation of their scheduled friendly matches against Egypt’s U-20 team, Nigeria’s Flying Eagles have secured a new opponent to prepare for the upcoming U-20 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON). The seven-time African champions will now take on tournament hosts Cote d’Ivoire in two friendly matches set for February 26 and 28 in Abidjan.
Team Administrator Aliyu Lawal Ibrahim confirmed that the squad, which has been in camp in Abuja for several weeks, will depart for Abidjan on Monday, February 24. Initially, head coach Aliyu Zubairu had assembled a 30-man squad for the planned games against Egypt’s Young Pharaohs. However, those fixtures were canceled after both nations were drawn into the same AFCON group.
The Flying Eagles have a recent history of success against Cote d’Ivoire, having defeated them 2-1 in the group stage of the WAFU B U-20 Championship in Togo last October. That victory propelled Nigeria to the semi-finals and ultimately led to their successful defense of the title.
Nigeria and Cote d’Ivoire share a long-standing rivalry at the U-20 level. Forty-two years ago, the Flying Eagles edged the Ivorians 4-3 in a two-legged final of the Tessema Cup, the former trophy for Africa’s U-20 champions. The first leg in Abidjan ended in a 2-2 draw, while a spectacular long-range goal from Dahiru Sadi secured a 2-1 victory for Nigeria in the return leg at the National Stadium in Lagos.
The 2024 U-20 AFCON is set to take place in Cote d’Ivoire from April 26 to May 18, with Nigeria and Egypt drawn into Group B alongside Morocco and South Africa. The tournament’s top four teams will secure qualification for the FIFA U-20 World Cup, scheduled to be held in Chile from September 27 to October 19.