The Nigeria’s Golden Eaglets are preparing for yet another African Cup of Nations billed to hold in Algeria.
It will be the 14th edition of the youth championship meant for players within the age of 17 years and below.
The competition is being organised biennually by Confederation of African Football (CAF) since 1995.
Nigeria has participated in 9 editions of the last 13 of the tournament and have won it twice, first in 2001 and second time in the 2007.
The Eaglets were runners-up twice in 1995 and 2013 respectively, third in 2003 and came fourth twice in 2015 and 2019.
Nigeria have scored a total number of 93 goals in their last Nine outings at the tournament. The highest of them all was in 2013 where they scored 18 goals as runners up to Ivory Coast.
Eaglets only failed to qualify from Group stage twice both in 1999 and 2005.
The team is drawn in Group B alongside Morocco, Zambia and South Africa for the 2023 editions of the tournament which will begin on April 29 and ends on May 19.
Eaglets will begin their campaign for glory against Zambia U17 team 5pm Nigerian time on Sunday.
The team, who won WAFU B U17 Championship in Cape Coast, Ghana 10 months ago is drawn in Group B alongside Morocco, Zambia and South Africa
The relatively young-looking squad who have passed their mandatory MRI test has caught the eyes of the public.
The team, to many Nigerians represents a huge shift from the age long stony-faced players that normally dominate the contingent in the past.
After resuming camp mid-March following the break for the general elections, the Eaglets played 12 friendly matches at their NFF/FIFA Goal Project, Abuja base, winning 11 of the matches and drawing the other one. They scored a total of 66 goals and conceded 14.
The Head Coach of the team is Legendary Nduka Ugbade. He was the Captain of the Nigerian team that won the maiden edition of the FIFA U17 World Cup 1985 hosted by China.
