NPFL hotshot Sunusi Ibrahim has predicted Nigeria will top a tricky first round group of the 2019 U23 AFCON, which has South Africa, Cote d’Ivoire and Zambia.
Champions Nigeria were seeded for the draw along with hosts Egypt and so head Group B.
They open their campaign to feature at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics on November 9 against Cote d’Ivoire.
“No doubt it’s a tough group, but we will top it,” predicted 17-year-old Sunusi, who made a goal-scoring U23 debut against Sudan in September.
“What we need to do is to work hard and we will go through to the knockout stage on top.”
However, Nigeria may be without several top stars who will not be released for the eight-team tournament by their European clubs.
The U23s under coach Imama Amapakabo are currently involved in the 2019 WAFU Nations Cup in Senegal.
They will take on Cape Verde Monday in a losers’ quarterfinal after they were ousted from the main tournament by Togo.
