The scorer of Nigeria’s first equaliser against Kenya in Wednesday’s 2-2 draw, during their last group match at the Africa U20 Cup of Nations in Egypt, Kparobo Nathaniel Arierhi has fired a bold shot ahead of Monday’s quarter-finals clash with Senegal, saying the Nigerian players will encourage themselves to win the game.
Sports247 reports that it promises to be an explosive fixture, as Senegal are the defending champions, while Nigeria has won the cup seven times in the past, but this clash means only one of them will qualify for the next FIFA U20 World Cup.
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With only the semi-finalists at this competition in Egypt billed to pick World Cup tickets, the loser of Monday’s game in Ismaili will not be among the numbers at Chile 2025, but Kparobo stressed that he and his colleagues are determined to be there.
The product of Ikenne-based Beyond Limit Football Academy, who now plays for Lillestrom of Norway, admitted he was happy after scoring his first goal of the championship, and then disclosed that the Nigerian players have all started planning how to win their next game.
Nathaniel said, “It’s a great one for me, and I’m really happy. I am excited that I was able to turn up and get my first goal. I think this is the first of many for me in this tournament. I’m going to make sure that I try my best to get more.”
The 18-year-old Arierhi, who scored 12 goals in 15 games during The Creative Championship (TCC) League in 2023, after which he netted four at the Gothia Cup in Sweden and then helped Beyond Limit FA win the Viareggio Cup last year in Italy, added: “It’s important for us to get to the World Cup.
“So, we are very happy that we’re in the quarter-finals; because we now have a chance to make sure we get the ticket. Just one match ahead of us, and we can get to the World Cup.”
He concluded by revealing how Coach Aliyu Zubairu’s wards aim to use brotherliness, harmony, togetherness, unity and cooperation to pick a ticket to this year’s Youth Mundial in Chile – at the expense of Senegal.
“My teammates and I will give everything we have to pick the ticket. I’m very sure of that. In this team, with all of my teammates together, I am very sure that we can do better. We really have a lot going for us. We are brothers.
“So, we can really encourage ourselves and make sure we get the ticket. I have no doubt in this team,” said Arierhi, who was initially approached by Aston Villa of England and Olympique Lyon of France before opting for Lillestrom instead.
