Reigning champions, Nigeria returned to contention for a place in the semi-finals of the third Africa U-23 Cup of Nations after coming from a goal down to beat Zambia 3-1 in Cairo on Tuesday.
With a quarter of an hour gone, it appeared to be going away for the defending champions as they sat pointlessly and at the bottom of Group B. Goals from three former U-17 World Cup winners, however, shot Nigeria to second in the group and with a good chance of toppling leaders South Africa when both teams clash at the same Al-Salam Stadium on Friday evening.
Zambia, who drew 0-0 with South Africa in a southern African derby on an opening day, were given a morale-boosting shot when Patson Daka, who also features for the country’s senior team, Chipolopolo, scored in the 11th minute to increase the worries of Nigerians.
