AFCON U-20: Flying Eagles to face hosts Ivory Coast after Egypt friendly cancelled
- Adamu Muftawu
- Feb 23
- 1 min read
Photo Credit - Nigeria Football Association.
Nigeria’s U20 national male team will shift attention to AFCON hosts Cote d’Ivoire in a double header warm-up games ahead of the tournament in April this year.
The international friendly fixtures come about after a previous arrangement for the Flying Eagles to test their readiness against Egypt was cancelled. The calling off of the game against the Young Pharoes was due to both sides paired in the first round group.
The seven-time African champions will now play Cote d’Ivoire in two matches scheduled for Wednesday, 26th February and Friday, 28th February 2025 in Abidjan, the Ivorian capital.
Aliyu Lawal Ibrahim, Team Administrator of the Nigeria U20 side confirmed that the team, which has been in camp in Abuja for weeks after Head Coach Aliyu Zubairu called up 30 players for the planned games with Egypt’s Young Pharaohs, is expected to fly out of Abuja for Abidjan Monday to continue their preparations for the tournament with the two friendlies.
The Flying Eagles defeated the Ivorians 2-1 in a group stage encounter at the WAFU B U20 Championship in Togo in October last year – a result that qualified the Cup holders to the semi-finals of the competition which they eventually won against Ghana to retain the trophy.
