Nigeria’s U20 national team, Flying Eagles, will face Côte d’Ivoire’s U20 team, Baby Elephants, in preparation for the upcoming U20 AFCON.
Initially, Nigeria had planned a friendly match against Egypt, but the plan was canceled. The main reason for the cancellation was that both teams were drawn into Group B of AFCON U20. Nigeria preferred to face their opponents during the tournament instead.
However, to test the players currently in camp, friendly matches were arranged against Côte d’Ivoire. These matches are scheduled to take place on February 26 and February 28.
Recent encounters between the two teams show Nigeria’s dominance. Their most recent clash occurred in October, during the WAFU B U20 Championship group stage. Nigeria secured a 2-1 victory, which helped them advance to the semifinals.
The Flying Eagles are aiming to win the U20 AFCON, which will be held from April 26 to May 18. If they reach the semifinals, they will automatically qualify for the U20 FIFA World Cup.