U-23 AFCON: Nigeria to host Guinea-Bissau in first-leg of final qualifying round

Nigeria will host Guinea in an Under-23 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) final qualifying round first-leg fixture at the Lekan Salami Stadium in Ibadan on March 22.

The Nigerian team, who were 1996 Olympic Games champions, had qualified for this round after overcoming Tanzania. 

A penalty kick goal in each half, and at opposing sides, had guaranteed a stalemate in the first leg match of the second-round fixture at the Benjamin Mkapa Stadium in Dar es Salaam in October.

A textbook free-kick by Timilehin Ogunniyi and another penalty kick by team captain Success Makanjuola in the return leg game in Ibadan saw the Eagles sailing to the final round.

Sporting Tribune reports that victory in the clash with Guinea will determine, after both legs, progress to the 4th Under-23 AFCON scheduled for Morocco later in the year.

Nigeria won the second edition of the Africa Under-23 Cup of Nations in Senegal in 2015, before winning the bronze medal at the Men’s Olympic Football Tournament in Brazil in 2016.