The Flying Eagles have arrived in Morocco instead of Spain for their final preparations ahead of this month’s Africa U-20 Cup of Nations.
A training camp for the country’s youth team has become paramount because they need to acclimate to Egypt's wintry weather conditions.
The 2023 U-20 AFCON will be played in Egypt between February 19 and March 11 with the top four teams qualifying for the U-20 World Cup in Indonesia in May.
“The team will train in Morocco, which has similar weather with Egypt, which at the moment is very cold and the team need to get used to this in time for the tournament,” a team official, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said.
“The logistical challenges like getting visas into Spain for a large contingent and in record time also worked against the Flying Eagles preparing there.
“Egypt was also considered a suitable training site for the Flying Eagles, but that was dropped after the team were drawn in the first round with the host nation.”
Nigeria are drawn with hosts Egypt, Senegal and Mozambique in the first round of the continental tourney.
Bosso names final squad
Flying Eagles head coach, Isah Ladan Bosso, has announced his final roster for the Nigerian under-20 national team competing in the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations.
“We have been able to sustain the same mood we had in camp before going for the WAFU B U-20 Championship in Niamey, which we won. Since then, we have played a series of matches and scored plenty of goals, and that is immense for a winning mentality to stay within a team,” Bosso said.
“However, we are not going to under-rate any of our opponents. Defeating Zambia in Abuja was good for confidence but we know the championship mood would be tougher. We will be ready to make the country proud.”
The two-time FIFA World Cup runners-up and one-time bronze medallists will play their first match against Senegal’s Cub Lions on Sunday, February, 19 at the Cairo International Stadium.
The Flying Eagles will then face hosts Egypt on Wednesday, February 22 and Mozambique on Saturday, February 25, both matches to be played at the Cairo International Stadium.
Flying Eagles 21-man complete list:
Nathaniel Nwosu, Augustine Njoku, Solomon Agbalaka, Daniel Daga, Abel Ogwuche, Daniel Bameyi, Rilwanu Haliru Sarki, Nicholas Jonathan, Ahmed Abdullahi, Muhammad Aminu, Ibrahim Muhammad, Benjamin Frederick, Emmanuel Uchegbu, Onuche Ogbelu, Jude Sunday, Akanbi Saheed Jimoh, Ayuba Francis Abubakar, Samson Lawal, Olamilekan Adams, Caleb Ochedikwu, Chijioke Aniagboso.
This article was most recently revised and updated 2 years ago
