Nduka Ugbade, the lead trainer of Nigeria’s Under-17 national team, the Golden Eaglet has qualified his country’s 2023 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) Group as an interesting one.<\/p>\n
The Confederation of African Football (CAF) completed the draw ceremony of the first-ever 12 nations tournament at the Cercle National d’Armee in Algiers, Algeria this Wednesday, putting together some exciting pairings.<\/p>\n
Two-time winners Nigeria inherited a group that have emerging football powerhouse Morocco, 2015 runners-up South Africa and current COSAFA champions Zambia.<\/p>\n
Per Nduka Nigeria is unfazed about their tough opponents as they’ve quality of their own.<\/p>\n
“It’s quite interesting. We have always been waiting for this moment. We will face every team as they come. One after the other,” Nduka started.<\/p>\n
Nigeria are a powerhouse in the competition – in their nine previous appearances they finished runners-up twice, third on the same number of occasions and finished fourth on one occasion.<\/p>\n
However they have not won the trophy since they won a second title in 2007. Nduka says they don’t want to get ahead of themselves.<\/p>\n
“We are not talking about winning the AFCON. We are talking and planning about winning each match. One after the other.<\/p>\n
“We will fight. We are most probably in the toughest group. I have an idea of West, South, North and East African football. These are great nations but we are going to prepare ourselves for the onslaught.”<\/p>\n
“Everyone of those teams will feel Nigeria. We have respect and a little fear knowing that we can lose. So with that, we have to prepare so losing it doesn’t come to pass,” Nduka concluded.<\/p>\n
The 2023 U17 AFCON tournament will run from April 29 to May 19 across three cities in Algeria.<\/p>\n
Annaba, Algiers and Constantine will be host of the entire and the four semi-finalist will earn automatic qualification for the 2023 U17 FIFA World Cup scheduled for Peru later this year.<\/p>\n
Full Pairings<\/p>\n
Group A<\/p>\n
Algeria
\nSenegal
\nCongo
\nSomalia<\/p>\n
Group B<\/p>\n
Nigeria
\nMorocco
\nSouth Africa
\nZambia<\/p>\n
Group C<\/p>\n
Cameroon
\nMali
\nBurkina Faso
\nSouth Sudan<\/p>\n
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