Sports
U-23 AFCON: Siasia eyes victory as Egypt plots Nigeria’s fall
Nifemi Daniel
Its going a battle of Supremacy as Nigeria’s U-23 Eagles battle Egypt today (Wednesday) in the second match of the U-23 African Nations Cup in Senegal.
Nigeria’s coach, Samson Siasia, has warned his players to avoid complacency as a win will help the team edge near the country’s quest for an Olympics ticket.
Nigeria survived a late scare from Mali with a 3-2 win in their Group B clash on Sunday at the Caroline Faye Stadium, M’Bour.
A three goal lead at half time put the U-23 Eagles on the path of victory only for a spirited second half performance by the Malians saw them reduce the deficit with two quick goals, but the equalizer remained elusive.
“The players know we can’t afford to be complacent against Egypt like we did against Mali. There is no room for costly mistakes at this stage. A win for Nigeria is a step closer to the Olympics,” he warned.
Meanwhile, Egypt U-23 manager, Hossam El-Badry, has vowed to defeat the Nigeria U-23 Eagles when both teams meet on Wednesday.
“The Nigeria match will be tough as both teams combine very skilled and talented players and because it’s the second game of the tournament,” the 55-year-old tactician told the Egyptian Football Association official website.
After a 1-1 draw against Algeria on Sunday in the opener, the former Ahly manager said: “We need to win the game to keep our hopes of reaching the semi-finals alive in an attempt to win it and snatch the Rio ticket.”
RipplesNigeria …without borders, without fears
Join the conversation
Support Ripples Nigeria, hold up solutions journalism
Balanced, fearless journalism driven by data comes at huge financial costs.
As a media platform, we hold leadership accountable and will not trade the right to press freedom and free speech for a piece of cake.
If you like what we do, and are ready to uphold solutions journalism, kindly donate to the Ripples Nigeria cause.
Your support would help to ensure that citizens and institutions continue to have free access to credible and reliable information for societal development.
INVESTIGATION: In Kwara, multimillion-naira milk processing plant is abandoned, converted to a chicken outlet
After the government spent millions of naira to establish a milk processing plant in Kwara State that would provided jobs...
SPECIAL REPORT: For Sokoto communities, promise of healthcare is akin to death sentence
In this story, ABDULRASHEED HAMMAD delves into the dire realities of Primary Health Care services in Sokoto State, shedding light...
ICYMI…SPECIAL REPORT: NNPCL hides behind PIA to frustrate disclosure, accountability
Nigeria’s major oil company, Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation Limited (NNPCL), in what appears to be a common practice of disregard...
INVESTIGATION: Multi-million naira Ekiti resort center remains uncompleted a decade after
The multimillion-naira project, expected to comprise recreational buildings, now consists of cassava farmland, a bush used for excretion, and a...
SPECIAL REPORT: Torturous experiences of students with disabilities in Oyo tertiary institutions
For students with disabilities in Oyo state-owned tertiary institutions, learning is a torturous and distressing experience, considering the building structures...