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Nigeria's Flying Eagles will in February, head to the U-20 AFCON in Egypt as the tournament's record champions, having won 1983, 1985, 1987, 1989, 2005, 2011, and 2015 competitions.
Zambia's U-20 assistant coach Albert Mphande has revealed the Junior Chipololo are ready to take on Nigeria's U-20 men's national team in a preparatory match for the next month's Under-20 Africa Cup of Nations tournament.
The Flying Eagles will be one of 12 teams to participate in the 17th edition of the U-20 AFCON, scheduled for Egypt between Sunday, February 19 and Saturday, March 11, 2023.
As a part of preparations for the competition, Nigeria will play two friendly matches against their Zambian opponents in Abuja, Nigeria.
Zambia U-20 assistant coach reacts ahead of Nigeria friendlies
Speaking ahead of the preparatory doubleheader, Mphande said that the games will give the Chisi Mbewe-led squad the head start it needs.
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“We are really in need of these friendly games, and for some of the boys, it will be their first time to play against West African teams.
“It will give us some good position from where to start. I think in terms of readiness, physically, we are about 75 per cent, mentally, we are almost there, about 65 per cent,” Mphande added.
Zambia are in Group C of the 2023 competition and would face Benin, Gambia, and Tunisia. They emerged winners of the 2017 U-20 AFCON - the first they ever hosted, and the last they qualified for.
Nigeria to play first game on February 19
Meanwhile, the Flying will face the hosts Egypt, three-time losing finalists Senegal, and Mozambique, having been drawn into Group A of the competition.
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Nigeria compete as the most successful team and will hope that they can put an end to an 8-year trophy drought. The Flying Eagles emerged victorious in the competition in 1983, 1985, 1987, 1989, 2005, 2011, and 2015, finished as runners-up in 1999, and 2007, and secured a bronze-medal finish in 1995, 2009, and 2013.
The Ladan Bosso-led side will play Senegal in their first match on February 19 at the Cairo International Stadium.
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