Coach Salisu Yusuf will this afternoon lead out the Nigeria U23s in Tanzania in an U23 AFCON qualifier knowing fully well that this will be his last chance to prove he is good enough to head a national team.
Kick-off time in Dar es Salam is 2pm in Nigeria.
Salisu Yusuf failed to qualify the CHAN Eagles to next year’s tournament in Algeria and he was also part of the coaching staff when the Super Eagles lost out to rivals Ghana for a place at next month’s World Cup in Qatar.
Under him, one of traditional clubs Kano Pillars have been relegated to the second division.
The Super Eagles second assistant coach has over the years enjoyed the support of newly-elected NFF president Ibrahim Gusau, but it will be the results he will achieve that will now keep him in a job.
He has picked a squad that include seven overseas-based pros led by Sanusi Ibrahim from MLS side Montreal Impact, Turkey-based defender Michael Ologo as well as Success Makanjuola, who featured at the 2019 FIFA U20 World Cup in Poland.
First-choice goalkeeper Nathanial Nwosu has already distinguished himself with the Flying Eagles as he was one of the reasons the U20s qualified for the 2023 U20 AFCON.
Tanzania reached the second round of the qualifiers after they eliminated South Sudan.
Besides the home team, Nigeria will also be up against the high altitude in Tanzania.
The return leg will be played a week later in Ibadan with the overall winners to play off with the winners between Guinea and Uganda for a place at the U23 AFCON in Morocco.
This tournament serves as a qualifier for the 2024 Olympics in Paris.
