Nigeria U23 skipper Azubuike Okechukwu has admitted that the team will face difficult tests in qualification for 2020 Olympics in Tokyo.
The Imama Amapakabo tutored lads zoomed to the final round of the 3rd Africa U23 Cup of Nations qualifying series on Monday, beating Libya 4-0 on the back of a Victor Osimhen hat-trick at the Stephen Keshi Stadium in Asaba.
The North Africans won the first leg 2-0 in Ben Guerdane, Tunisia on Wednesday last week, and came fully prepared to defend their advantage. But Osimhen, alongside fellow U17 World Cup winners Kelechi Nwakali, Samuel Chukwueze and Orji Okonkwo bossed proceedings in a one–sided affair in the city that is fast turning to Nigeria’s football capital.
The Dream Team VII will square up against the winner of the Kenya/Sudan fixture in the final round of qualifiers in June, with the winner to be eligible for a place at the 3rd Africa U23 Cup of Nations in Egypt in November.
This is not the first time that Azubuike Okechukwu will be involved in such battle having captained the Dream Team VI to glory in second edition of the competition in 2019.
“It will be very difficult. I have been in this situation before having been part of the U23 team the last time out,” the Caykur Rizespor defensive midfielder admitted in a chat with Footballlive.ng.
“Every game is difficult. If the team can train like it did in the last three days, there is no excuse for us not to deliver.”
The three–top placed teams at the 3rd Africa U23 Cup of Nations will represent Africa at the Men’s Football Tournament of the 2020 Olympics in Tokyo.
