The Flying Eagles have finally settled for a training camp in Morocco instead of Spain ahead of the U20 AFCON in Egypt. A training camp for the country’s youth team has become paramount because they need to acclimatise to the wintry weather conditions they will have to battle in Egypt.
“The team will train in Morocco, which has similar weather with Egypt, which, at the moment is very cold and the team need to get used to this in time for the tournament,” one of several top officials said in a statement. The logistical challenges like getting visa into Spain for a large contingent and in record time also worked against the Flying Eagles preparing there.
Egypt was also considered as a suitable training site for the Flying Eagles, but that was dropped after the team was drawn in the first round with the host nation. The team is due to embark on an overseas training stint by the end of the month after coach Ladan Bosso would have submitted his final 21-man squad out of the 35 players he invited for the U20 AFCON, which will also serve as a qualifier for the U20 FIFA World Cup in Indonesia in May.
The U20 AFCON begins In Cairo February 19. Nigeria has a draw with host country Egypt, Senegal and Mozambique in the first round of the continental tourney. All four semi-finalists at the championship will fly Africa’s flag at this year’s FIFA U20 World Cup.
Uganda, Central African Republic, South Sudan and Congo are in Group B, while The Gambia, Tunisia, Benin Republic and Zambia will slot it out in Group C.
