U20AFCON: Flying Eagles qualify for World Cup

Nigeria’s national U20 team, the Flying Eagles defeated Uganda to qualify for the U20 FIFA World Cup later this year. The Flying Eagles qualified for the World Cup after a 1-0 win over their East African opponent in the quarter-final of the ongoing U20 Africa Cup of Nations (U20AFCON).

The Flying Eagles needed to win in the game decided at the Suez Canal Stadium to guarantee themselves of a place at the World Championship, their minimum target for the competition; they did just that.

After some period of dominance in the first half, Ladan Bosso’s Flying Eagles went in front on the half hour mark in fortuitous fashion after Ibrahim Muhammad Beji’s shot came off the post but rebounded back into the net off Ugandan defender Ibrahim Juma.

The East Africans threw everything they could to the game in the second half but ultimately could not find a way past Nigerian goalkeeper Chijioke Aniagboso who captained the team on the day in the absence of the suspended Daniel Bameyi.

Bameyi’s replacement at centre back Abel Ogwuche produced a commanding performance which saw him named Man of the Match at the end of the game.

WAFU B champions Nigeria joined WAFU A champions Senegal to become the first two African countries to book their places at this year’s FIFA U20 World Cup. Earlier on Thursday, the Senegalese beat Benin 1-0 courtesy of Samba Diallo’s header.

The Flying Eagles will face the winner of Friday’s quarter final tie between South Sudan and The Gambia in the semi final on Monday.

The Flying Eagles of Nigeria are the eighteenth (18th) nation to qualify for the 24-nation 2023 FIFA U20 World Cup in Indonesia scheduled to hold between May 20 and June 11. The draws for the competition will be held on March 31 in Jakarta.

Qualified teams for Indonesia 2023

1. Indonesia
2. Brazil
3. Uruguay
4. Colombia
5. Ecuador
6. England
7. France
8. Italy
9. Slovakia
10. Israel
11. USA
12 Guatemala
13. Dominican Republic
14. Honduras
15. Fiji
16. New Zealand
17. Senegal
18. Nigeria