Nigeria’s under-23 national team, Olympic Eagles have set their sight on picking all three points on offer against Cote d’Ivoire in their first match at this year’s African championship in Egypt, which serves as qualifiers for next year’s Olympiad in Tokyo, Japan, megasportsarena.com reports.
Although the Eagles will not have the pleasure of their captain, Azubuike Okechukwu and top striker, Taiwo Awoniyi in action in Saturday’s opening group match, as the duo was not relased by their respective clubs in Turkey and Germany, the Nigerian coach, Imama Amapakabo is staying optimistic of a great start to the Africa U-23 Cup of Nations.
Consequently, the communications department of Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) reported on Monday that Amapakabo’s boys have intensified final preparations for the this edition of the championship, as they aim to defend the title they won four years ago in Senegal with a sterling show this month in Egypt.
The reigning champions will confront Cote d’Ivoire’s U23 squad at the Al Salam Stadium in Cairo on Saturday afternoon, before further matches against Zambia (Tuesday, 12th November) and South Africa (Friday, 15th November) at the same venue.
Midfield ace Kelechi Nwakali was the first overseas-based player in the team camp (he joined before the team left Nigeria), and he has since been joined by the likes of Tom Dele-Bashiru, Sincere Seth, Muyiwa Olabiran, Orji Okwonkwo, Valentine Ozornwafor, Anthony Izuchukwu, Bright Enobakhare, Sunday Faleye and Aliyu Yau Adam.
The Olympic Eagles are expected to depart Ismailia to Novotel Hotel base in Cairo on Thursday and Amapakabo admitted he would have loved to be with Okechukwu and Awoniyi, as well as defenders Bitok Stephen and Josiah Chukwudi, but says they will make do with what they have for the game this Saturday in the Egyptian capital.
With high expectations buzzing through the Eagles’ in Ismailia, Egypt, as all the players thinking of picking three points against the Ivorians in Saturday’s opening game of Group B, Amapakabo is delighted with the output of his wards in their training sessions, which have been holding at the training pitch of Mercure Hotel in the city of Ismailia since the team arrived on Thursday evening.
Amapakabo disclosed: “The players have been working very hard and that is a positive point. They are looking forward to the tournament with a lot of enthusiasm and confidence. We are also happy to have most of the Europe-based squad members with us already. That allows time for good planning, bonding and team building.”