Flying Eagles of Nigeria head coach Aliyu Zubairu is confudent about his side’s chances as they prepare to face Tunisia in their opening U-20 Africa Cup of Nations fixture in Cairo on Thursday.
The two sides will open Group B of the continental tournament at the 30 June Stadium on Thurday, with Morocco and Kenya alsoin the group.
Zubairu is excited that his boys are up for the challenge after a 2-1 victory over hosts Egypt in a friendly match at the Cairo International Stadium last Tuesday – barely 48 hours after the delegation landed in Cairo.
“That result has provided a good impetus for us as we prepare to face the Tunisians – another North African opposition,” the El-Kanemi Warriors boss said.
“You need a result like that when you’re preparing for a competition like this. It does not mean that we will rest on our oars; it only serves to give us much-needed confidence and ginger us to face our challenges better.
“We will go for the maximum points against the Tunisians and then take it one step at a time as we forge ahead.”
Tunisia lost to the the Flying Eagles 40 years ago when the Nigerians won the second of their seven African titles, in the era when the winners were decided over two legs.
With both teams already qualified for the FIFA World Youth Championship (now FIFA U-20 World Cup) in then USSR, Nigeria forced a 1-1 draw with their hosts in Tunis, and then won a close-fought return leg 2-1 at the National Stadium, Lagos.
Two years ago, the Carthage Eagles again bowed to the Flying Eagles in the third-place match of the U-20 AFCON, also hosted by Egypt. It ended 4-0 against the North Africans.
