Nigeria’s under-23 national team, Olympic Eagles have relocated from their pre-competition training base in Ismailia, Egypt to the North African country’s capital, ahead of Saturday’s match against Cote d’Ivoire at the continent’s qualification tournament for Tokyo 2020.
Megasportsarena.com reports that the Eagles are scheduled to commence their defence of the African U-23 Cup of Nations against the Ivorians, ahead of which Coach Imama Amapakab o lined his lads out for a build-up friendly against Cameroon, and the tactician expressed satisfaction with a goalless draw in the game, which was played across three divides, lasting 30 minutes each.
Although observers argued that the barren draw in Ismailia was riddled with poor blending in the Eagles’ play, Amapakabo felt his side held their own well against a team that camped in the city for a week, and are being marshaled by Cameroonian ex-international, Rigobert Song.
Amapakabo also took positives from the form exhibited by Wigan Athletic of England striker, Bright Enobakhare and Montreal Impact of Canada winger, Orji Okonkwo, after which both coaches expressed their satisfaction with the performances of their respective sides.
Benin City-born Enobakhare got a non-competitive international debut for Nigeria, despite still being eligible for England, as he has lived in the United Kingdom for more than five years, and the 21-year-old attacker on loan from Wolverhampton Wanderers went all out to impress, but was unfortunate not to score and missed a couple of chances.
Both sides left for Cairo right after the game, as Cameroon put finishing plans to preparations for their debut in the U23 AFCON, where they will play in Group A with host country Egypt, Mali and Ghana, while Nigeria are in Group B with Cote d’Ivoire, Zambia and South Africa.
Cameroon will kick off their campaign against The Black Meteors of Ghana on Friday, while title holders Nigeria begin against Cote d’Ivoire on Saturday in the continental competition, which serves as Africa’s qualifiers for the 2020 Olympic Games in Japan.
Only the two finalists and third placed winner will qualify to represent Africa next year in the Land of The Rising Sun, with Amapakabo’s boys yearning to replicate a track record that has seen Nigeria win gold (Atlanta ’96), silver (Beijing 2008) and bronze (Rio 2016) in Olympics history.
