Harcourt, Okoro to miss Flying Eagles U-20 AFCON third-place encounter
- Adaramola Yemiblak
- 7 hours ago
- 1 min read
Nigeria’s Flying Eagles will face hosts Egypt in their 2025 CAF U-20 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) third-place match without two key players in Odinaka Okoro and Ebenezer Harcourt.
The third-place match is scheduled to kick off at 6:00 p.m. local time (4:00 p.m. Nigerian time) on Sunday at the 30 June Air Defence Stadium in Cairo. The final will follow at 9:00 pm.
Nigeria suffered defeat in the semifinal just hours before Morocco also edged Egypt 1-0 in the other semis tie. The results set up a Morocco vs South Africa showdown in Sunday’s final, while Nigeria will battle Egypt for the bronze medal.
Ebenezer Harcourt has been sidelined due to a knee injury picked up during Nigeria’s narrow 1-0 semifinal loss to South Africa.
Meanwhile, Okoro will miss the fixture due to an automatic suspension after receiving a second yellow card in the same match. He was, however, able to train with the team, while Harcourt couldn't participate due to his injury.
Ebenezer Harcourt quickly became a key figure for the Flying Eagles with his dynamic play in midfield. Known for his exceptional vision, precise passing, and ability to dictate the tempo of the game, he consistently linked defence and attack, providing crucial support on both ends of the pitch.
His absence in the third-place match will undoubtedly be felt, as his ability to break down opposition defences and create scoring opportunities has been a significant asset for the team throughout the tournament.