The U-23 Eagles are off to Bergandan, Tunisia for the first leg of their U-23 Africa Cup of Nations qualifier against Libya billed for Wednesday at the Bengerdan Stadium, reports Completesports.com.
15 players and their officials left the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja on Monday morning for the game.
They will be joined by eight other overseas-based professionals for the game.
“0ur Dream Team VII have left for Bergandan, Tunis for the first leg U-23 Afcon qualifier versus Libya U-23. The game is scheduled for Wednesday 20th March, 2019. Goodluck to them. #SoarDreamTeamVII #Team9jaStrong #TotalU23Afcon,” reads a Tweet on the official Twitter handle of the Nigeria Football Federation.
Head coach of the team, Imama Amapakabo picked 12 home-based players and 11 professionals for the game.
Lobi Stars trio of Udochukwu Anumudu, Ebube Duru and John Lazarus top the list of domestic players which also include MFM’S defender, Joshua Akapde and Stephen Manyo of Enyimba.
Turkey-based Azubuike Okechukwu, Villarreal’s Samuel Chukwueze , Taiwo Awoniyi who plays for Royal Excel Mouscron of Belgium, Club Brugge winger Emmanuel Bonaventure Dennis and Spezia forward David Okereke are some of the overseas-based players in the list.
Libya are still unable to play international matches at home due to the after-effects of the ArabSpring political turmoil that began in 2011.
The reverse fixture will come up at the Stephen Keshi Stadium, Asaba on Tuesday March 26.
The U-23 Eagles are the defending champions of the U-23 Africa Cup of Nations.
Africa’s flag-bearers in the Men’s Olympic Football Tournament of Tokyo 2020 will emerge during the 3rd U-23 AfricavCup of Nations to hold in Egypt in November this year.
The U-23 Eagles Full Squad Vs Libya
Goalkeepers: Adamu Abubakar, Olawale Oremade, Galadima Mohammed
Defenders: Joshua Oghene Akpade, Udochukwu Anumudu, Stephen Manyo, Ebube Duru, Ojo Adebayo, John Lazarus, Etiboy Akpan
Midfielders: Azubuike Okechukwu, Olatunji Oluwadare, Fatai Adebowale, Kelechi Nwakali, Kingsley Michael, Tosin Kehinde, Bonaventure Dennis
Forwards: Olabiran Blessing Muyiwa, Samuel Chukwueze, Orji Okonkwo, Chidera Ezeh, Taiwo Awoniyi, David Okereke
By Adeboye Amosu
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COMMENTS
Now this looks like an U23 team. Just pair this picture with that of our U20 AFCON team and you would think these ones are the U20s. Kudos to Coach Imama and Fidelis and the rest of the team. This is the way to go if we are really serious about getting to and remaining at the top for long time. A large chunk of these guyz have played together from the U13 national team.
Good luck to the entire team. I hope you hit libya hard at their ‘backyard’
This is the real team. Not that Under 20 team with the mediocre coach.
I want Victor Osimhen to join this team at both Caf Under23 Nations cup and at Tokyo 2020.
God bless our Under23 Team.
God bless Nigeria.
Well done Coach.
The only problem I see is that apart from the 15 that have been training together for a few weeks, the foreign pros will not have had time to blend in with the team.
The positive though is that the return leg is in Nigeria next week.
Going out there a draw will be good enough, then bring them home and unleash the pros to spank them good and proper. Match is on Wednesday and the pros will be arriving from this evening or most likely tomorrow, so only one light training a session before the first game
I see. Playing at home will give them the upper hand.