By Dayo Awoniyi
Nigeria captain Daniel Bameyi has commended the determination of his teammates following Nigeria’s goalless draw with Morocco in the ongoing U-20 Africa Cup of Nations in Egypt.
The closely contested match on Sunday left both teams tied on four points, keeping their hopes alive for a place in the knockout stage.
Speaking after the match, Bameyi, who plays for Bayelsa United, highlighted the intensity of the game and lauded the fighting spirit shown by both sides.
“It was a good one. Respect to the opponent and my teammates,” he said. “It was an intense game because we both knew what was at stake.”
Bameyi also credited the Flying Eagles’ coaching staff for their tactical preparation, which he said was key to containing the Moroccan side.
“Kudos to our coaches. They analyzed the opponents thoroughly, and we executed their plans on the pitch. It worked out well, and we thank God for that,” he added.
With one group-stage match remaining, Nigeria will now turn their attention to a crucial encounter against Kenya on Wednesday, where a win could secure their place in the next round.
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.
