The Flying Eagles will open their qualification race for the 2023 U20 AFCON today against defending champions Ghana after hosts Niger fell 1-0 to Cote d’Ivoire in Saturday’s tournament opener.
Kick-off time is 5pm.
The Flying Eagles won their last two test games – 1-0 vs Niger U20, 4-0 vs Olympic Niamey – leading to today’s much-awaited derby against the Black Satellites.
Both Nigeria and arch-rivals Ghana played out a 1-1 draw when both teams last clashed in the sub-regional WAFU B qualifiers in Benin two years ago.
Burkina Faso are the other team in Group B.
On Saturday, Seydou Tarore fired a 51st minute winner for Cote d’Ivoire to beat Niger with captain Arafat Doumbia named Man of the Match.
In the second Group A match, Benin pipped Togo 1-0 courtesy of a winning goal by Farid Edou on the hour.
Zoulkaneri Seibou of Benin was named Man of the Match.
The top two teams from this competition will advance to the U20 AFCON to be hosted by Egypt in February 2023.
