Nigeria ’s U-23 Olympic Eagles coach, Salisu Yusuf has expressed satisfaction with the team’s 1-1 away draw against Tanzania, in the first leg second round qualifier for next year’s U-23 AFCON in Morocco.
Two penalties, one in each half saw Saturday’s U-23 AFCON qualifying match between Nigeria and Tanzania in Dar es Salaam end in a 1-1 draw.
Captain Success Makanjuola netted for Nigeria in the 29th minute, after Qudus Akanni was fouled in the hosts’ vital area.
Tanzania restored parity also from the penalty spot in the 74th minute.
Reacting to the outcome of the game, Yusuf told NFF TV:“It was a hard game because they (Tanzania) were already in match situation. We could have won the game but we didn’t take our two chances but we thank God for the draw. Our plan for the next game is to win them and move to the next round.
Yusuf added:“We will continue to work with the group, they are improving as a team and I believe they will play better in Nigeria.”
The team will return to Nigeria to commence preparation for the second leg billed for the Lekan Salami Stadium, Ibadan on Saturday next week.
And the winner on aggregate will proceed to the third and final round of the qualifiers.
The 2023 U-23 AFCON to be held in Morocco in November will determine Africa’s representatives at the men’s football Tournament of the 2024 Olympic Games in Paris.