Chijioke Raphael
In what is considered a renewal of rivalry, Nigeria and Senegal are set to lock horns in the quarter-finals of the U-20 Africa Cup of Nations at the Suez Canal Stadium in Ismailia on Monday (today).
This will be the fourth encounter between the two sides at the tournament, with Nigeria having won two of the previous matches, while Senegal claimed one victory. Their history at the competition has been filled with high stakes, with the winner of each previous match between them going on to lift the trophy.
In 2015, Nigeria defeated Senegal 3-1 in the group stage before earning a 1-0 win in the final, with Bernard Bulbwa’s 17th-minute goal claiming Nigeria’s seventh title. In contrast, Senegal triumphed over Nigeria 1-0 in their opening match in 2023, with Souleymane Faye scoring the only goal of the game as the Senegalese ultimately won the tournament that year.
The encounter holds weight for both teams, as they have endured mixed fortunes in recent times. Nigeria, runners-up in Group B, are aiming to maintain their strong record of never having lost a quarter-final match at the U-20 AFCON, winning all seven matches they have played under the current format. Their most recent quarter-final victory came in 2023, with a 1-0 win over Uganda. This gave them a proud tournament history of reaching the semi-finals 16 times and never failing to advance past the quarter-finals since 2001, with the exception of 1993.
Senegal, on the other hand, finished second in Group C and are aiming to defend their title. They are coming off an unbeaten streak against West African teams, having won seven and drawn one of their eight previous matches before suffering a 1-0 defeat to Ghana in their second group match.
Nigeria, despite their defensive solidity, have shown vulnerability in recent matches, including a 2-2 draw with Kenya in the group stage—their first match conceding more than one goal since 2015. However, they had kept three consecutive clean sheets prior to that and boast strong individual performances, such as Emmanuel Chukwu’s excellent showing against Kenya, where he recorded the most touches and completed passes in the match.
Ahead of training in Ismailia, Flying Eagles coach Aliyu Zubairu underscored the significance of the match, highlighting its importance for both teams.
“We understand the magnitude of this game,” he stated.
“It’s a crucial fixture for both teams, with the winner securing a spot in the World Cup. It feels like a final, and with the added intensity of the rivalry between our nations, it’s essential that we remain disciplined and focused throughout. That’s exactly what we intend to do,” Zubairu said.
Zubairu acknowledges Senegal’s status but insists Nigeria will not be intimidated.
