U-20 AFCON: Flying Eagles down Hippos, book World Cup ticket
Bosso's boys through to semifinals of tournament
Nigeria’s Flying Eagles secured their place at the FIFA U-20 World Cup in Indonesia after a 1-0 win over Uganda in the quarterfinals of the 2023 AFCON U-20 at the Suez Canal Stadium. The Nigerian side became the second team from Africa to reach the tournament.
After securing a second-place finish in the group stage, the Flying Eagles were drawn against the Hippos of Uganda in the quarterfinals. Coach Ladan Bosso was without his captain Daniel Bameyi, who had picked up a suspension following an accumulation of yellow cards, and vice-captain Daniel Daga, who has been out since picking up an injury in the first game against Senegal.
The Nigerian team started out as the better of both sides but failed to trouble 18-year-old Ugandan goalkeeper Abdu Magada. The Flying Eagles, however, broke the deadlock with a huge slice of luck in the 30th minute when Ugandan defender Ibrahim Juma put the ball past his own goalkeeper.
Despite their best efforts, neither side managed to find another goal for the remainder of the encounter. Ladan Bosso’s boys secured their place in May’s World Cup in Indonesia, knocking out 2021 U-20 AFCON silver medallists Uganda in the process. Nigeria becomes the second side to reach the showpiece after Senegal defeated Benin Republic earlier in the day.
