The Nigeria Football Federation has moved the final round of the U-23 Africa Cup of Nations qualifier game between Nigeria and Guinea which will be played on Wednesday, March 22 from Ibadan to Abuja, The PUNCH reports.
The game was earlier scheduled for the Lekan Salami Stadium, Adamasingba, Ibadan with the return leg coming up on March 27 in Guinea.
The Olympic Eagles played the second leg of their last round of qualifying match against Tanzania in Ibadan which they won 2-0 and were expected to return to the city from Abuja, where they are currently camping to put finishing touches to their preparations for the Guinea clash.
Minister of Youth and Sports, Sunday Dare, had proclaimed the Lekan Salami Stadium, Ibadan as the base of the u-23 team for their quest to qualify for the 2024 Olympics.
In a statement released by the NFF’s Director of Media and Communications on Thursday, the fixture will now be played in Abuja, two days before the Super Eagles will host Guinea Bissau in a 2023 AFCON qualifier at the same venue.
“Nigeria’s U23 boys, Olympic Eagles will now host their Guinean counterparts at the Moshood Abiola National Stadium, Abuja on Wednesday, 22nd March, in the final round of qualifiers for this year’s Africa U23 Cup of Nations,” the statement read in part.
Head coach of the team, Salisu Yusuf, had called up 30 players who are currently training in Abuja.
The winner over two legs between Nigeria and Guinea will advance to the finals of the Africa U-23 Cup of Nations scheduled to be hosted by Morocco in June.
The tournament in Morocco will also produce Africa’s flag bearers men’s football event of the Paris 2024 Olympics.
