Flying Eagles Win U-20 AFCON Bronze after Tunisia Rout
FIFA World Cup-bound Nigeria eased to a four-goal victory over Tunisia’s on Friday to claim the bronze medals at the 17th Africa Cup of Nations in Egypt.
It was clear from the first few minutes that the seven-time African champions had shaken off the lethargy from their lone goal semi-final defeat to The Gambia on Monday, which upturned their dreams of an eighth continental title for Nigeria.
Ibrahim Muhammad, whose rocket accounted for one of the two goals that sank Mozambique in the group phase and shot the Flying Eagles to the quarter-finals, put the Tunisians to task by scoring only nine minutes into the clash at the mammoth Cairo International Stadium.
Belgium-based forward Ahmed Abdullahi increased the yoke on the North Africans with tally goal barely after the re-start, before Jude Sunday made it three for Nigeria only two minutes after to put daylight between themselves and the Young Carthage Eagles
Man-of-the-match Jude Sunday rounded off a blistering afternoon and good day in the office for the Flying Eagles with a fourth goal in the 90th minute.
Victory earned Nigeria the bronze medal for a record-extending fourth time at the Africa U-20 Cup of Nations, and the Flying Eagles will also be one of the 24 teams in the pot on March 31 when FIFA conducts the draw for the U-20 World Cup taking place in Indonesia May 20 – June 11.
Meanwhile, coach Ladan Bosso, has revealed that he wants five top scorers in the Nigeria Premier Football League to join his team ahead of the U-20 World Cup in Indonesia in May.
Bosso disclosed this at the post-match press conference after the Flying Eagles thrashed Tunisia 4-0 in Egypt.
“I have communicated to the Interim Management Committee those managing the Nigeria Premier Football League and responsible for the registration of players in the league, that I need five top scorers,” Bosso said.
“I need to have their profile and document to see if they qualify to be invited to add value to the attack of the Flying Eagles.
“We have learnt our lessons here in Egypt. I want to special dedicate this bronze medal feat to my mentor in Nigeria, Fanny Amun.
“He called me after the team qualified for the world cup that I should use the remaining games as a fresh build-up to the preparations for Indonesia U-20 World Cup.
“I am happy that at least Nigeria qualified for the World Cup and won the bronze medal game,” he said.
