AFCON U20

Tunisia eye second medal as Nigeria seek redemption in bronze match

09:03 - 10 March 2023

Onuche Ogbelu challenges Uganda's Travis Mutyaba in a previous match. (CAF)

Tunisia will be eyeing their second medal to add to their silver won in 1985 while the Flying Eagles seek something to add to their World Cup qualification as they return home to meet their newly-elected president.

There will be differing ambitions when Tunisia and Nigeria meet on Friday evening in the third-place playoffs of the 2023 U-20 Africa Cup of Nations inside the Cairo International Stadium.

Nigeria holds the record for the most medals won at the U-20 Africa Cup of Nations. The Flying Eagles boast of a staggering seven golds, two silvers and three bronzes since the inaugural edition played on a home and away basis in 1979.

“The bronze medal is important for the CVs of the players, they must be aware of it,” Adel Sellimi, the head coach of the Young Carthage Eagles said ahead of the match.

For Nigeria, their head coach Ladan Bosso’s speech and body language showed just how much the serial winners have been addicted to trophies.

“It’s unfortunate that we have to play the losers' game but sports come that way,” Bosso bemoaned their current fate.

ALSO, READ - Bosso psyching up crestfallen Eagles to go for bronze

His comments painted a picture of just how failing to reach the final has affected his players and the camp in general.

“When we lose out the psyche and put too much pressure on ourselves, it will not go well for the future of these boys.

“So, we have decided to psyche them up and let them know that even if we lost in the semi-final, we can still go back to Lagos with something which is better than nothing,” he said.