By Dayo Awoniyi
Nigeria’s men U20 national team were held to a goalless draw by Morocco’s Lion Cubs in a closely contested Group B match at the CAF U-20 Africa Cup of Nations on Sunday in Cairo.
The result leaves both teams level on four points after two matches, though Morocco top the group on goal difference, having edged Kenya 3-2 in their opening game.
Nigeria, seven-time champions of the competition, struggled to break down a well-organized Moroccan defense and managed just one clear-cut chance — a first-half effort from midfielder Divine Oliseh.
The match was marked by tactical discipline from both sides, with neither team able to gain a decisive advantage.
The Flying Eagles’ attacking play lacked urgency and precision, while Morocco appeared content to absorb pressure and play on the counter.
In the group’s earlier match, Tunisia boosted their hopes of progression with a 3-1 win over Kenya, moving into third place with three points. Kenya, yet to register a point, sits at the bottom of the standings.
Nigeria must now defeat Kenya in their final group fixture on Wednesday to ensure qualification for the quarterfinals.
Samuel Ahmadu is a distinguished multimedia journalist and women's football expert with over 15 years of experience in the industry. He began his career at Goal.com in February 2014, where he served as an African women's football correspondent for nearly eight years. During his tenure at Goal.com, Samuel covered major events such as three Women's Africa Cup of Nations (2016, 2018, 2022) and the 2015 FIFA Women's World Cup in Canada plus 2018 FIFA World Cup in Russia. His work at Goal.com earned him widespread acclaim, particularly for his in-depth profiles of African football stars, notably Asisat Oshoala, whose rise he documented from her early years to her breakthrough at the FIFA U20 Women's World Cup in 2014. Prior to his role at Goal.com, Samuel freelanced for various print and broadcast media outlets in Nigeria, including Graphics Newspaper, Radio Nigeria, Grace FM, and Savid Newspaper. His extensive experience and expertise led to his appointment to the Nigeria Football Federation's Standing Committee on Women's Football Development from 2016 to 2018. Since February 2018, Samuel has been the Social Media Manager for Nigeria's women's national teams.In 2019, Samuel joined the Confederation of African Football (CAF) as a women's football content contributor and was promoted to Women's Football Editor in 2021. His contributions to women's football continued as he worked as a Media Consultant for Content Creation and Editorials at the 2022 CAF Women's Champions League. Currently, Samuel also serves as the spokesman for the Nigeria Women Football League, further solidifying his influence and dedication to the growth of women's football in Africa.
