African Games: Gusau charges F’ Eagles ahead of make-or-mar Senegal clash

The President of Nigeria Football Federation (NFF), Alhaji Ibrahim Musa Gusau has called on players of the U20 Boys, Flying Eagles to go all out and pick the semi-final ticket in a make-or-break 13th African Games group against Senegal’s Young Lions of Teranga on Friday at the University of Ghana Sports Stadium in Accra.

Gusau expressed his disappointment with the outing of the seven-time African champions at the continental meet so far, in which they have lost 1-2 to Uganda and edged South Sudan thanks to a late penalty converted by Isiyaka Muhammad Sadiq.

“Nigeria has a high pedigree in youth football across the globe and that is a fact that should ring loud in the minds of every player wearing the green-white-green at that level. We did not fare well against Uganda and I gave the boys a piece of my mind.

“Against South Sudan, we should have done more and taken the three points quickly but had to struggle. I believe the players have the potential to do far more and they should start by showing their stuff against Senegal on Friday. It is a match we have to win to reach the semi finals,” he said.

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On their part, defending champions Falconets have no such worries in the women’s event of the Games as they head into their final match of the group phase having picked up the semi-final ticket, with six points from their first two matches.

Meanwhile, the Confederation of African Football has acceded to a request by the Nigeria Football Federation to move next month’s Women’s Olympic Football Tournament final qualifying fixture, first leg encounter between Nigeria and South Africa by one hour.

“Concerned by the hot climatic condition in the country at the moment, we wrote to CAF to move the kick-off from 4pm to 5pm, in the interest of the players, and they have acceded to our request for the match to commence at 5pm, at the MKO Abiola National Stadium,” Ruth David, NFF’s Director of Competitions, told thenff.com.

The game, which is the opening leg of the fixture that will determine which of the two teams will be one of Africa’s two flagbearers at this year’s Women’s Olympic Football Tournament in France, was initially scheduled to start at 4pm on Friday, 5th April.