The ongoing Africa U20 Cup of Nations in Egypt is at the crucial quarter-final stage, with World Cup qualification just a win away.
The four winners of the quarter-final matches win tickets to represent Africa at FIFA U20 World Cup scheduled for Indonesia from May 20 to June 11.
the stakes are high
With the stakes so high, Nigeria’s Flying Eagles are looking forward to a win against fellow Ugandans, who have been one of Egypt’s dark horses.
Although he admits it will be a tough match, Flying Eagles coach Ladan Bosso believes he has the men to get the job done against the Ugandan Hippos.
“Before we left the training camp in Morocco, the President of the NFF, Ibrahim Musa Gusau, told us clearly that our first goal is to get a ticket to the FIFA World Cup. We are now at the most important stage and we cannot waver.
“We know that Nigerians are looking to deliver. While our mission remains to get the World Cup ticket, we are also looking for the trophy, which we still have a few matches to play. Now, we have Uganda and we are working hard to see that we control the process on Thursday. Bosso said during the build-up to a make-or-mar fight.
Nigeria will play a must-win match on Thursday without captain Daniel Bameyi. The hard-tackling defender missed out due to the accumulation of yellow cards he picked up in the group matches against Senegal and Mozambique.
Ready to end Nigeria
But while Bosso is confident of victory against the East Africans, Ugandan coach Jackson Mayanja is also unwavering in his main target of qualifying for the World Cup.
“From the moment I was given the role of Hippos coach, I explained that qualifying for the World Cup was our goal. We have come a long way and now we are closer. We are playing Nigeria, who are a strong team, but we know what this match means. This is a game that can transform Ugandan football, and change our lives, especially for the players,” he said.
Uganda-20 captain Isma Mugulosi is also confident of securing what will be a historic win against Nigeria’s Flying Eagles.
“It’s a big game against a big country with history, but we also want to write history. We’re going to go all out, leave everything on the field because this is the moment we’ve been waiting for.
Also read: Egypt 2023: Bosso advises Flying Eagles to bounce back like Argentina
The highly anticipated Nigeria, Uganda clash is scheduled for the 22,000 capacity Suez Canal Authority Stadium in Ismailia from 19:00 Egypt time (18:00 Nigeria time) on Thursday.
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