Nigeria’s under-23 national team, the Dream Team will play their next match in the qualifiers for the continental championship on June 5 in Sudan, after the North African country scaled the hurdle in Kenya.
While Nigeria edged aside Libya 4-2 on aggregate to move into the next stage of the African U-23 Cup of Nations qualifiers, Sudan settled for a goalless draw in their second leg away to Kenya, but had already won the first tie 2-0, hence the ticket to battle the defending champions in June.
The second leg between Nigeria and Sudan will hold on June 9, with the Olympic Eagles again with the crucial privilege of playing the reverse fixture on home soil.
Nigeria, who won the last competition at Senegal 2015, will now tango Sudan in the third and final round of the U-23 AFCON qualifiers, with an eye on a spot at the main event slated for Egypt in November.
Sudan earlier eliminated Seychelles 2-1 on aggregate in the first round before knocking out Kenya on Monday, while Imama Amapakabo’s side drew bye as defending champions.
The Eagles and Sudan will now clash for the first leg in Ombudsman on June 5 before the return leg holds four days later in Nigeria, after which the winner will be at Egypt 2019.
Aside Nigeria versus Sudan, six other fixtures will also hold in the final round of qualifiers for the 2019 U–23 AFCON, as South Africa will battle Zimbabwe, Zambia face Congo, Ghana play Algeria, Cameroon versus Tunisia, Cote d’Ivoire tango Guinea and DR Congo confront Mali.
The winners will join hosts, Egypt for the final tournament slated for November 8 to 22 and the top three nations will represent Africa in men’s football event of the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games.
