2024 Olympic Games: Nigeria holds Tanzania in Dar es Salaam

The National U-23 team, the Olympic Eagles, yesterday, played a 1-1 draw against their hosts, Tanzania, at the Benjamin Mkapa Stadium. The fixture is a qualification match for the Africa U-23 Cup of Nations held in Morocco and the Paris 2024 Olympics.

Success Makanjuola had put Nigeria ahead in the 29th minute through a penalty kick he converted after a Tanzanian defender was penalised for a foul against Qudus Akanni in the hosts’ 18-yard box.

The home team piled pressure on the Nigerian lads in the second half, hitting the crossbar on two occasions before Djiboutian referee, Souleiman Ahmed Djama, awarded them a penalty that was brilliantly converted in the 74th minute.

The Nigerians fought back determinedly to seal a win, but were limited and the eventual result ended 1-1 score, as the hope to advance to the next round against the Tanzanians now lies in the return leg scheduled for the Lekan Salami Stadium, Ibadan, on Saturday.

It will be recalled that the Chairman of the Nigeria Football Federation’s Taskforce for youth competitions, Alhaji Aminu Balele Kurfi, promised the team $20,000 if they beat their hosts in the first leg of the encounter.