Nigeria walks tight rope to Paris 2024 Olympics

Guinea holds U-23 Eagles in Abuja

The country’s hope of returning to the Olympic Games, after missing the Japan 2020 edition, hangs on a balance, as the Guinean U-23 team played a goalless draw with Nigeria in Abuja, yesterday.

The match at the MKO Abiola Stadium was the first leg of their Morocco 2023 African U-23 Cup of Nations qualifier, which is Africa’s qualifying competition for the Olympic Games.

It is the play-offs, which will decide which country qualifies for the U-23 AFCON billed for Morocco from June 24 to July 8. The top three from the U-23 AFCON will qualify for the Paris 2024 Olympics football tournament, while the fourth-placed team will play the Asia Football Confederation-CAF playoffs to decide the final slot at the Olympics.

Nigeria huffed and puffed through out the 90 minutes, but they could not find a way of breaching the well-organised Guinean defence. Nigeria’s first chance at goal came as early as the second minute when Oluwatimilehin Ogunniyi had the chance to open scores but he could not make hay.

After missing a begging opportunity in the 14th minute, Chukwudi Igbokwe almost gave Nigeria the lead in the 27th-minute, but his trike hit the cross bar.

Guinea almost broke the deadlock five minute into the second half, but they hit the post. Thereafter, Nigeria resumed their search for a goal, but the Guineans stood their ground until the end of the game, but on the dot of time, Nigerian defender, Christopher Nwaeze, was handed the red card for a second bookable offence, and will miss the return leg in Rabat on Tuesday.  

With the goalless draw in Abuja, the Olympic Eagles must either get a score draw or outright win to qualify for the African U-23 Nations Cup in Morocco.

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