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Nigeria's U-20 side rallied from two goals down to hold Colombia to a 3-3 draw in the friendly in Tristan Suarez.
Flying Eagles head coach Ladan Bosso admitted that Tuesday’s pre 2023 FIFA U-20 World Cup friendly against Colombia made him a happy man, as it strengthened his team ahead of their participation.
Nigeria's U-20 side rallied from two goals down to hold the South Americans to a 3-3 draw in the friendly in Tristan Suarez. It was the Flying Eagles second pre-tournament firendly, with the prior, ending in a 3-2 victory over Argentine second division side Club Almirante Brown.
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20:35 - 17.05.2023
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Argentina were announced as the emergency host of the 2023 tournament following the withdrawal of hosting rights from Indonesia.
Bosso happy with Flying Eagles preparations
Speaking on Tuesday's night, ahead of the tournament's start, Bosso revealed that his team were now ready for big task ahead, adding that the friendlies had bolster the team's morale.
“I am happy with the result. This will bolster the team mentally and psychologically for the World Cup starting in a few days,” the tactician said after the 6-goal thriller.
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“The match has provided us with a stiff test and has also strengthened us for the big task ahead. We are focused on the big challenge ahead, which is to put up a creditable performance that will match the pedigree of our country at this championship.”
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Bosso mandated to win U-20 World Cup
Meanwhile, Nigeria will go into the competition with the hope of winning the tournament after having come so close in the 1989 and 2005 editions but failed to do so, losing out to Portugal and Argentina.
In an Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) communique of April 17, 2023, Bosso is mandated to bring the title home.
"While asseverating that the bronze-medal performance of the U20 Boys, Flying Eagles at the Africa U20 Cup of Nations in Egypt was below-par, the Board exhorted the technical crew and the players to see it as a national duty to win the FIFA U20 World Cup for Nigeria when the tournament takes place in Argentina between 20 May and 11 June," the NFF communique reads.
The Flying Eagles are drawn into Group D of the 2023 FIFA U-20 World Cup alongside Brazil, Italy, and Dominican Republic.
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