Izuchukwu OkosiPresident of Nigeria Football Federation, Alhaji Ibrahim Musa Gusau, has charged players of the Flying Eagles to produce their best performances in Friday’s crucial Group B game against Senegal in the 13th African Games holding in Ghana, Prime Business Africa reports.
Nigeria coached by Ladan Bosso began the men’s Football tournament by suffering a 2-1 defeat to Uganda but bounced back in their second game against South Sudan with a 1-0 victory.
In a goodwill message to the Nigerian U-20 side, Gusau reiterated that the team struggled against supposed minnows, South Sudan, but expresses hopes that the team will get it right and ensure that they sail to the semifinals unhindered.
A late penalty converted by Isiyaka Muhammad Sadiq was all the team required to nick a priceless win in their clash against South Sudan.
“Nigeria has a high pedigree in youth football across the globe and that is a fact that should ring loud in the minds of every player wearing the green-white-green at that level,” Gusau said as he addressed the team.
“We did not fare well against Uganda and I gave the boys a piece of my mind.
“Against South Sudan, we should have done more and taken the three points quickly but had to struggle. I believe the players have the potential to do far more and they should start by showing their stuff against Senegal on Friday. It is a match we have to win to reach the semi finals.
Friday’s game will take place at the University of Ghana Sports Stadium in Accra.
Nigeria is represented by the seven-time African champions at the U-20 level in Ghana.
Initially comprising six teams, the Group B housing Nigeria had five teams, which would have amounted to each team playing four matches instead of three.
However, Tunisia pulled out late in the day, and with six-pointer Uganda having picked the first semi-final ticket from the pool, the second ticket is a straight fight between Nigeria and Senegal. South Sudan are out of the running having lost both games.
Izuchukwu Okosi is a Nigerian sports and entertainment journalist with two decades of experience in the media industry having begun his media journey in 2002 as an intern at Mundial Sports International (MSI) and Africa Independent Television (AIT), owners of Daar Communications Plc.
In October 2004, Okosi joined Complete Communications Limited, publishers of Complete Sports newspaper and Complete Football magazine as a reporter and later script writer for the Complete Sports studio.
He worked there for 13 years until October 2017.
Okosi also worked various times as Correspondent, Content creator and Editor at Sports Market International Magazine, Opera News, All Nigeria Soccer Media and Iconic Media Watch.
He also undertook freelance writing gigs for some local and international organizations.
Okosi is a member of the Actors Guild of Nigeria (AGN), Association of Movie Producers (AMP), Association of Voiceover Artistes of Nigeria (AVOA), Sports Writers Association of Nigeria (SWAN) and Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ).
He has been part of cast in some Nollywood movies and radio dramas including Blood Money 2, Scores To Settle, Dead End 2, Another Campus Tale and Battle Line.
Aside mainstream media and the entertainment industry, he has interests in scouting/unearthing of talents in the sports and creative sectors, exports business and property development.
