Nigeria’s U20 team, the Flying Eagles, will meet Côte d’Ivoire’s Baby Elephants in friendly matches after games against Egypt were cancelled. Set for February 26 and 28 in Abidjan, these fixtures aim to prepare Nigeria for the upcoming AFCON, where they hope to qualify for the FIFA U20 World Cup.
Nigeria’s Flying Eagles are set to face Côte d’Ivoire’s Baby Elephants in two friendly matches due to the cancellation of their games against Egypt. The Nigeria Football Federation confirmed that these matches will take place on February 26 and February 28, 2025, in Abidjan, prior to the Africa U20 Cup of Nations (AFCON).
Under the guidance of head coach Aliyu Zubairu, the Flying Eagles have been training in Abuja and will depart for Côte d’Ivoire on February 24. Following their training camp, the team aims to sharpen their skills in preparation for the upcoming AFCON tournament.
Initially, coach Zubairu had selected 30 players for the now-cancelled fixtures against Egypt, as both nations are positioned in Group B for the tournament alongside Morocco and South Africa. Zubairu remains confident despite the challenging group draw, emphasizing the importance of facing strong opponents on the road to the FIFA World Cup qualification.
Nigeria has a favorable record against Côte d’Ivoire, having previously beaten them 2-1 during the WAFU B U20 Championship group stage in Togo last October, which helped secure their place in the semi-finals. Historically, their rivalry includes a significant encounter in 1983 for the Tessema Cup final, where Nigeria won 4-3 on aggregate.
The AFCON will run from April 26 to May 18, 2025, with Nigeria full of ambitions. Performance in this tournament is crucial, as reaching the semi-finals will guarantee qualification for the FIFA U20 World Cup to be held in Chile later this year.
In summary, Nigeria’s Flying Eagles will compete against Côte d’Ivoire’s Baby Elephants in friendly matches ahead of the AFCON due to the cancellation of the Egypt matches. Coach Zubairu and his squad are focusing on preparation for a challenging tournament, aiming for a strong performance that could lead to FIFA World Cup qualification. Nigeria’s historical success against Côte d’Ivoire will be a significant motivating factor as they prepare for these fixtures.
Original Source: soccernet.ng
