Nigeria’s U-23 Eagles were held to a 0-0 draw by Guinea in the first-leg of the 2023 U-23 Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers inside the MKO Abiola Stadium, Abuja on Wednesday.
It is the play-offs which will decide who qualify for the U-23 AFCON billed for Morocco from 24 June to 8 July.
The top three teams from the U-23 AFCON will qualify for the 2024 Summer Olympic men’s football tournament in Paris.
While the fourth-placed team will play the Asia Football Confederation-CAF playoffs to decide the final slot at the Olympics.
Guinea will host the second leg against the U-23 Eagles on Tuesday March 8.
Oluwatimilehin Ogunniyi had thr U-23 Eagles first attempt on goal in the 2nd minute but shot wide.
In the 14th minute the U-23 Eagles were awarded a free-kick but the Guinean keeper made a simple save.
Chukwudi Igbokwe almost opened the scoring for Nigeria on 27 minutes only to see his effort hit the cross bar.
With one minute left to play in the first half Guinea keeper parried a shot from Christopher Nwanze away to safety.
In first half stoppage time the Guinean keeper made another save to keep the score line goalless.
Five minutes into the second half Guinea almost broke the deadlock but the effort hit the post.
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On 63 minutes the Guinean keeper was called to action and made a good save.
In the 74th minute the U-23 Eagles were awarded a free-kick but the chance was wasted.
It was the turn of the visitors to create a scoring chance as they went on the break but Nathaniel Nwosu in goal for Nigeria came out to claim the ball.
And in the 89th minute Ogunniyi was presented with a good chance only to miss a header.
By Richard Jideaka in Abuja
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COMMENTS
Who is the coach of this team ?
Salisu Failure Yusuf.
Say bye bye to the 2024 Olympics lol ….Saliu the serial failure
Calm down dear. Xxx
I wasn’t expecting anything better, Salisu is corrupt guy, he’s not even a coach, has he succeed with any team before? I’m expecting same failure with that Bosso at U-20 world cup… This two cocahes are definition of failure
dont loose hope we have the players to deafet Guinea away @footballfanatic
You are so right, darling. XXX. Nigeria will definitely defeat Guinea away. All these lovely fans should calm down. Salisu Yusuf is a world class coach. With him Nigeria wil win Olympics gold next year.
Love you all. Kisses
I wasn’t surprise with the result When I heard that Salisu Yusuf was the team coach.
I was surprised that eagles didn’t conceded a lone goal .. the second leg wil be a surprise.if dey have good coach.and train together for some days before the second leg
U said march 8 for second leg I thought it 2 weeks time … Hence my submission.but I read again from another site it is 3 days time .how come march 8 . Wen today is 24 .. so 3 days dey wil face this guinea. Abeg make Dem no go .. .pls done wàste naira to conacry.naira or now equivalent to dollar.save it nff to pay eaglet in their camp.. eagles u 23 team not prepared for this competition
He meant 28th,March
The coach is a complet failuir what is he doing in the natilnal team. He is as bad as all the coache so as the nff that apointed him. Nigeria is moving backwards in football thats a reality
Na INEC rig this coaching job for Salisu .Na normal thing in Naija , them always goes for the wrong and corrupt leaders. So expect nothing good rather failures.