CAF Yet To Release Date For U23 African Nations Cup

CAF Yet To Release Date For U23 African Nations Cup

By Admin

No date has been set for the draw for the Under-23 African Cup of Nations in Egypt in November by Confederation of African Football (CAF) but the quality of the eight-team field ensures that it will be a bruising bid for Olympic qualification.

BSN Sports reports that the top three teams will go on to represent Africa at the men’s tournament at next year’s 2020 Tokyo Olympic Games in Japan with Nigeria seeking to qualify for the second consecutive time of the tournament after competing in Brazil at the last Games.

But if Imama Amakapabo team are to do so‚ they will have to get the better of the likes of former gold medal winners Cameroon, South Africa plus west African giants Cote d’Ivoire‚ Ghana and Mali‚ and near neighbours Zambia.

That is also not to forget the Egyptians‚ who host the tournament from November 8-22.

The dates fall largely within the international window‚ which will allow Nigeria coach Imama to call up players like Taiwo Awoniyi‚ Stephen Odey, Victor Osimhen, and the captain of the team Azubuike who are all based at European clubs and helped the team to an easy qualification aggregate triumph over Libya and Sudan.

Nigeria's Under-23 head coach Imama Amakapabo is determined to qualify the team for the 2020 Tokyo Olympics, though he insisted that he will prosecute the U23 AFCON with the home based but the tournament will be held during FIFA international window which allows foreign players to play for their countries.

The 5-0 success at the Stephen Keshi Stadium last Saturday was followed by a 0-1 loss in Tuesday’s first leg in Omdurman, Sudan.

Nigeria‚ who have been the most successful African country at past men’s Olympic tournament‚ sent out an ominous signals on Tuesday as they thrashed Sudan 5-0 at home to book their place at the tournament.

Mali upset a Moroccan side packed with foreign-based players while Ghana’s Black Meteors won 1-0 away against Algeria through Yaw Yeboah’s second half goal.

It means that Egypt are the only north Africa side left in the running for Tokyo.

Zambia‚ who had Gamphani Lungu of SuperSport United in their squad‚ drew 3-3 in Brazzaville against Congo for a 5-4 aggregate triumph despite some horrendous refereeing decisions against the Zambians.

The draw for the Under-23 Africa Cup of Nations should take place in the next month but Confederation of African Football (Caf) officials confirmed to TimesLIVE that they are still to set a date for the ceremony.