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By Raphael Ekpang
The minister of youth and sports, Sunday Dare has charged the Under 23 national team to go there in Egypt and make the national proud.
During a visit to the team’s camp on Friday, Mr. Dare commended the team for played out their hearts on Saturday even though they lost out to the Sparrow Hawks of Togo and assured them of support from the ministry to excel in their subsequent outings.
“I watched you play on Saturday, you played out your hearts but that is the way it is in sports. Sometimes you win and sometimes you lose but you are still a winner that is if you take the lessons from the losing and use that to become a winner< he said.
“I am optimistic you are going to be in Olympics so just go there I make us proud,” he said.
Mr. Dare commended the technical crew led by Imama Amakapakabo for their impact on the team and urged them to pick the most talented players that will bring glory to the country.
It will be recalled that after a first-leg 1-0 defeat in Khartoum, the Olympic Eagles overturned the deficit, thrashing Sudan 5-0 at Stephen Keshi Stadium, Asaba on Tuesday to qualify for the AFCON under 23 tournament in Egypt.
The Afcon U23 tournament will take place from November 8 to 22. Nigeria are the defending champions.
The top three teams at the competition will qualify for the Tokyo 2020 Olympic men’s football tournament.
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