March, 11 2023.
Football loving Nigerians have been asked to keep supporting the nation's Under-20 men's football team, despite their inability to win a record extending eight Africa U-20 Cup of Nations title, in Egypt.
Flying Eagles Winger, Jude Sunday made the call while speaking to the media, shortly after he was named Man of the Match in Nigeria's 4-0 thumping of the Junior Carthage Eagles of Tunisia, in their Bronze medal match, of the tournament.
It was Sunday's first start of the tournament, and he was overwhelmingly voted the MVP, after scoring two of the four goals that saw Nigeria win the Bronze, after losing 0-1 to Gambia in the Semifinals, on Monday.
The results notwistanding, Nigeria, Tunisia, Gambia, as well as Senegal have already secured tickets, to fly the banner of Africa at the FIFA U-20 Men's World Cup in Indonesia, in May.
The winger therefore called on Nigerians to be more patient and supportive of the team, and its technical crew, headed by Ladan Bosso, whom he said is capable to make amends, and turn around the fortunes of the Flying Eagles, for a favourable outing at the World Cup proper.
"I was shocked to learn that I was named the man of the match. But am happy, I contributed to the victory that gave us Bronze medal. The tournament has come and gone, all what left now is for me to go back to my club and start training ahead of the world cup", Jude concluded.
The curtains will fall on the tournament in Egypt, later on Saturday, when neighbors - Senegal and Gambia takes to the pitch to play for the title.
The final has been dubbed a derby, reminiscing the Colonial years, when the idea of the two nations gaining independence as one country (Sene-Gambia) was muted, but never pursued to its logical conclusion.
Whoever wins it today will go down as first time champions of Africa, at this level. But remarkably for Senegal; it will be an extension of their dominance, and surge as the latest men's football powerhouse on the continent.
Aside winning the last Africa Cup of Nations in Cameroun, the Lions of Teranga was one of the five African representatives at the Mundial in Qatar, and just last month, they won the CHAN tournament in Algeria.
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