The Federal Ministry of Youth and Sports Development has secured a camping base for the Under-23 men’s national team, otherwise known as Olympic Eagles, ahead of the team’s Africa U23 Cup of Nations qualifying fixture against Tanzania this month.
Camping and prosecution of qualifying campaigns and tournaments of the U23 men and women teams for the Olympic Games and the African Games fall within the power of the Youth and Sports Development Ministry. Still, the President of NFF, Alhaji Ibrahim Musa Gusau, on Friday applauded the Ministry for securing the camp as it will boost the preparation of the Olympic Eagles for their qualifying campaign.
Tanzania will host the first leg of the fixture in the weekend of 21st – 23rd October, with the return leg scheduled in Nigeria on Saturday, 29th October. The NFF has slated the return leg for the Lekan Salami Stadium, Adamasingba, Ibadan.
Head Coach Salisu Yusuf has invited 32 players who will resume camping in the Oyo State capital this weekend.
Nigeria won the Africa U23 Cup of Nations in Senegal in 2015 and the bronze medal at the Olympic Men’s Football Tournament in Brazil the following year. However, the class of 2019 failed to reach the knockout rounds in Egypt and thus missed out on an appearance in Tokyo last year.
Nigeria won gold at the Olympic Men’s Football Tournament in Atlanta, USA, in 1996 and followed up with silver in Beijing, China, 12 years later.
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