The Nigerian Flying Eagles this evening at the 30 June Stadium, Cairo Egypt piped the Junior Carthage Eagles of Tunisia by a lone goal at the CAF U20 Group B opener before a capacity crowd of 30,000 fans.
Akwa Ibom FC Mid fielder, Auwal Ibrahim got a thorough pass from his defender in the Eagles team, Odinaka Okoro in the 38th minute to register the lone goal.
The Flying Eagles did not bubble at all playing far from expectation as stats records were close with 10-8 shots at goal to Nigeria; 4-2 on target; 56-49% ball possession showing that Nigeria did not really control the match especially conceding 3-6 corner kicks to Tunisia showing pressure was on the Nigerian defence. Nigeria had 15 foul calls to Tunisia’s 18 meaning Nigeria is equally a rough team that shared 3-3 yellow cards in the game.
Morocco and Kenya are meeting later today in the other Group B Opener.
Nigeria and Tunisia actually met once and it was at the AFCON Youth championship where Nigeria on 10th March 2023 blasted Tunisia 4-0 with 1-0 at half time.
Scorers then were Ibrahim Muhammed at the 9th minute; Ahmed Abdullah at the 46th minute; Jude Sunday scored the 3rd goal in the 49th minute and also netted the 4th goal in the 90th minute.
Nigeria is the most successful Youth team in Africa having won the title a record 7 times in 1983; 1985; 1987; 1989;(four times consecutively) 2005; 2011 and 2015.
Two countries won 4 times each namely hosts Egypt in 1981; 1991; 2003 and 2013 while Ghana won in 1993; 1999;2009 and 2021.
Defending champions Senegal that won in 2023 leads the pack of nations that won only once. Others are Mali-2019; Zambia-2017; Congo-2007; Angola-2001; Cameroon-1995 and Algeria-1979.
Last five matches of Nigeria were a 2-3 loss to Senegal on 15th March 2024; Goalless draw with Burkina Faso on 18th October 2024; a 2-0 victory over Ivory Coast on 24th October 2024; another 3-1 victory over Niger Republic on 27th October 2024 and beating Ghana at their backyard 2-1 on 30th October 2024 all in the CAF qualifier.
Tunisia beat Algeria 3-0 in a friendly on 9th September 2024; beat Libya 2-1away on 14th November 2024; lost to Morocco on 17th November 2024 at home; clipped Algeria 2-1 on 23rd November 2024 and on 26th November 2024 lost to Egypt by a lone goal.
Nigeria will be playing Morocco next on Sunday at 7pm same day Tunisia will face Kenya and the last group match is scheduled for next Wednesday when Nigeria tackles Kenya at 4pm same time Tunisia will square up with Morocco.
Group A that has five teams saw Sierra Leone beat hosts Egypt 4-1 on Sunday; South Africa piped Tanzania by a lone goal; also in that Group; Zambia drew goalless with Sierra Leone and Egypt beat South Africa by a lone goal
