Nigeria’s Olympic Eagles on Saturday recorded a 2-0 victory against Tanzania to reach the final qualifying round of the 2023 African Cup of Nation (AFCON) in Morocco.

Alhasan Yusuf and Success Makanjuola sealed the win for Nigeria in the 61st and 69th minute at the Lekan Salami Stadium in Ibadan.

With the result, Nigeria is through to the final round of the qualifying series with a 3-1 aggregate after 1-1 draw in Tanzania a fortnight ago.

Reacting, the Team Manager of the visiting Tanzania Team, Ahmed Maroko, said that his boys lost due to their inability to read the game.

Maroko, in a post-match interview with newsmen, said that his team could not accurately read the game after the Eagles first goal.

According to him, "My boys played very well in the first half of the game, describing it as “a good game for the future”.

He further said: “My boys played well, that’s football. I think in the future we are going to get a good team.

“The boys need to be nurtured to have more experience.”

Also, Yusuf Salisu, the U23 Eagles Coach, said the team’s attacking line was the weakest they have now, adding that they would develop the team gradually.

Salisu said that two players were brought out in the second half to boost the attack of the team, which later changed their mentality positively.

“This team was put together within a short period. We stayed here for two weeks and played many games. We played against Tanzania, we drew one and won one.

“It is all about building a team and that is achieved gradually. The first half was not easy, because the weather is harsh on the boys.

“Our ball circulation was slow. In the dressing room, we agreed to step-up the circulation in the second half. I believe we will still develop this team,” he said.

Salisu described their experience in Ibadan as very great, saying “they enjoyed the love and hospitality extended to them by the good people of Ibadan.”

Commenting, Success Makanjuola, the Team’s Captain, who scored the winning goal in the 68th minute of the game, said, “the game was won through unity among the players, discipline and submission to the instructions of our coach.”

According to him, we went into the game with determination to play for the Coach and Nigeria, having been told how important the game was.

“In the first half, we made many crosses to put pressure on the visitor’s defence and we were a little jittery.

“The coach gave us some instructions which we followed to achieve victory,” he said.

Makanjuola said that it was a great burden carrying the captain band, adding, “it is a great task with much responsibilities”.

The captain, however, said that he had started enjoying the responsibility because of the good people around him.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the Olympic Eagles scored the two goals through Oluwatumilehin Ogunniyi in the 62nd and Makanjuola in the 68th minute of the game.

NAN reports that Ogunniyi had opened the winning streak for the team through a free-kick, while Makanjuola had scored through a penalty kick taken after Ogunniyi was brought down in the 18-yard box.

NAN reports that among the dignitaries present at the stadium were Gov. Seyi Makinde of Oyo State; Mr Sunday Dare, the Minister of Youth and Sports Development, as well as other members of the state executive council.

Others present were: Mr Bolaji Ojo-Oba; Dr Rafiu Ladipo, President-General, Nigeria Supporters’ Club (NSC) and some ex-international, Ike Shorounmu; Mutiu Adepoju and Dimeji Lawal.

However, as a motivation for the under 23 Olympic Eagles Team to make Nigeria proud by defeating Tanzania, Gov. Seyi Makinde of Oyo State, had donated cash gift N10 million to the Nigerian team ahead of the game.

Makinde, who had promised to be at the Lekan Salami Stadium, along with members of his cabinet, to cheer the players up, also promised additional 20,000 dollars (about N18 million) after their victory.

The governor had made the announcement of the cash gift on Friday night at a dinner hosted by the State Government for the team inside the Government House in Ibadan. (Based on NAN reports)

Update news