Tunisia will be eyeing their second medal to add to their silver won in 1985 while the Flying Eagles seek something to add to their World Cup qualification as they return home to meet their newly-elected president.
There will be differing ambitions when Tunisia and Nigeria meet on Friday evening in the third-place playoffs of the 2023 U-20 Africa Cup of Nations inside the Cairo International Stadium.
Tunisia will be eyeing their second medal to add to their silver won in 1985 while the Flying Eagles seek something to add to their World Cup qualification as they return home to meet their newly-elected president.
Nigeria holds the record for the most medals won at the U-20 Africa Cup of Nations. The Flying Eagles boast of a staggering seven golds, two silvers and three bronzes since the inaugural edition played on a home and away basis in 1979.
“The bronze medal is important for the CVs of the players, they must be aware of it,” Adel Sellimi, the head coach of the Young Carthage Eagles said ahead of the match.
For Nigeria, their head coach Ladan Bosso’s speech and body language showed just how much the serial winners have been addicted to trophies.
“It’s unfortunate that we have to play the losers' game but sports come that way,” Bosso bemoaned their current fate.
ALSO, READ - Bosso psyching up crestfallen Eagles to go for bronze
His comments painted a picture of just how failing to reach the final has affected his players and the camp in general.
“When we lose out the psyche and put too much pressure on ourselves, it will not go well for the future of these boys.
“So, we have decided to psyche them up and let them know that even if we lost in the semi-final, we can still go back to Lagos with something which is better than nothing,” he said.
2023 U20 Africa Cup of Nations
3rd place playoff
Tunisia- vs Nigeria – Cairo International stadium
Related content
20:00 - 07.03.2023
AFCON U20 Senegal eyeing African treble
Should their Young Lions of Teranga go ahead to beat Gambia to the 2023 U20 Africa Cup of Nations title, the West African country will boast of four continental trophies.
15:16 - 09.03.2023
AFCON U20 Bosso psyching up crestfallen Eagles to go for bronze
The Eagles lost 1-0 to Gambia to miss a chance to play their tenth final in the competition. That result relegated them to play for bronze against a Tunisian side that was walloped 3-0 by Senegal.
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)