Nigeria win U20 Africa Cup of Nations Group Stage fair play award

By Oyediji Oluwaseun Babatunde

Nigeria have won the Fair Play award for the group stage of 2023 U-20 African Cup of Nations (AFCON) in Egypt.

The Confederation of African Football (CAF) Technical Study Group (TSG) named the Nigeria U-20 team as the winner of the Fair Play award for showing professionalism, dedication, passion, and discipline at the group stage.

The Nigerian side lost its first game of the tournament in a 1-0 defeat to Senegal but Ladan Bosso’s team were seen congratulating their Senegalese opponents and showing a high sense of sportsmanship.

The two-time FIFA U-20 World Cup silver medalist, recovered from the defeat to edge hosts Egypt 1-0 before sealing a quarter-final place with a 2-0 win over Mozambique.

Nigeria will face Uganda in the quarter-final for a chance to qualify for the 2023 FIFA U-20 World Cup in Indonesia.

The West African side is seeking to make another appearance at the FIFA U20 World Cup finals, having finished third in 1985, beating the then hosts Union of Soviet Socialist Republic on penalty shoot-out to bronze medal.

Four years later, in Saudi Arabia, the Flying Eagles lost 0-2 to Portugal in a classic Final in Riyadh. In 2005, Lionel Messi and Argentina were 2-1 winners in the Final match in The Netherlands.

A win over Uganda will put Nigeria in the stead to attempt its first FIFA U-20 World Cup title after the previous disappointment of losing two finals to Portugal and Argentina.