U20 AFCON : Nigeria And Mali Coaches Preview Semifinal Showdown In Niamey

Published: February 13, 2019

Flying Eagles coach Paul Aigbogun and Mali U20 coach Mamoutou Kané faced the cameras on Tuesday ahead of today's 2019 Africa U20 Cup of Nations semifinal showdown at the Stade Général Seyni Kountché, Niamey.

Nigeria are seasoned campaigners at the U20 AFCON, having reached nine finals, while their opponents today have managed only one appearance in the showpiece back in 1989, which makes them underdogs heading into this fixture.

''Our objective is to go through to the final but to achieve that we need to be better on Wednesday against a good team,'' Paul Aigbogun said.

''We created the conditions to reach the final.''

Mali coach admitted it will be a difficult game and stressed that they must be physically ready for the confrontation with Nigeria.

Kané said : ''We’re preparing for this semifinal with a lot of concentration because it is a match that looks difficult and it will need us to be mentally and physically ready. We’re working on it and I hope we will succeed.''

Of the eight countries that started the U20 AFCON, the Flying Eagles are the only team yet to concede a goal and averaged a goal per game in the group stage.

Igho Kingsley

Photo Credit : cafonline.com