The seven-time African champions, Flying Eagles of Nigeria, will face their Zambian counterparts in two friendly matches in the Nigerian capital as part of preparations for this year’s Under-20 Africa Cup of Nations.
The tour was completed following a request letter from the Nigerian Football Federation on 13 January, which gained prompt acceptance from the Zambia Football Association.
Through a letter dated January 14, 2023, Adrian Kashala, FAZ General Secretary, said Zambia’s football governing body agreed to the proposal. The tour proposal calls for the FAZ to fly the Junior Chipolopolo to Nigeria, while the NFF will cover the accommodation, food and other logistical costs of the Zambian delegation.
The two matches will take place on Friday, January 27, and Monday, January 30, 2023 respectively.
Flying Eagles have scored a total of 10 goals in two friendly matches since resuming camp after the Christmas period; the latest was a 5-1 thrashing of Galadima FC in Abuja on Wednesday.
Champions of the WAFU B Under-20 Championship held in the Republic of Niger in May 2022, the Flying Eagles have been drawn to play hosts Egypt, Senegal and Mozambique in Group A of the Under-20 Africa Cup of Nations which will take place from February 19 to March 11 of this year.
Hosted 2017 Africa U-20 Cup of Nations champions Zambia reached the quarter-finals of the FIFA U-20 World Cup in Korea Republic the same year, before losing to Italy after extra time in Suwon.
In Egypt, Zambia will face Tunisia, the Republic of Benin and the Gambia in Pool C, while Uganda, the Central African Republic, South Sudan and Congo will meet in Pool B.
The four semi-finalists in Egypt will qualify to represent Africa in the 23rd final phase of the FIFA U-20 World Cup, to be held in Indonesia from May 20 to June 11 this year.
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