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The national U-23 team will Thursday (today) depart for Dar es Salaam, for the first leg of their second round qualifying match for the 2023 U-23 AFCON , where they are expected to take on their Tanzanian counterparts.
The team has had lots of practice and preparation for this match. Led by coach Salisu Yusuf, the team camped at the Lekan Salami Stadium, Ibadan for two weeks, where they engaged in friendlies against VIA Football Academy and Star Sports Club in Ibadan.
The Coach, ahead of the match against the Tanzanians , had primed the team by pruning theinitial 32-man list while fresh legs were also infused into the team in order to beef up the squad.
Speaking on their state of preparedness, the head coach, Salisu Yusuf, expressed optimism that the team will do Nigerians proud.
“We have to be ready despite the circumstances we find ourselves, we are trying to build a team with a positive mind and get the result we need against Tanzania.
“We have studied our opponents in videos and we have organised tactically on how to prosecutes to the games home and away.”
According to Yusuf, 18 players and nine officials are headed for Tanzania to prosecute the first leg, while the rest of the squad will continue training in Ibadan.
The first leg of the match is on Sunday, while Nigeria will host the return leg in Ibadan next week.