Flying Eagles begin AYC defence

The Flying Eagles of Nigeria are set to play Mali in their group opener at the ongoing African Youth Championship in Algeria, reports ’TANA AIYEJINA

 Defending champions, Nigeria’s Flying Eagles will begin the defence of their African Youth Championship title on Sunday (today), when they play Mali at the 40,000-capacity Stade Ahmed Zabana, Oran, Algeria.

The game is the opening match in Group B. Congo DR and Gabon will battle for honours in the second game of the group at the same venue.  Both teams are making their debuts in the competition, which began on Saturday.

Hosts Algeria are in Group A alongside Benin Republic, Egypt and Ghana.

Nigeria’s next match is on Wednesday against Gabon, while their final group game will be on Saturday, also in Oran against DR Congo.

The Nigerians won the AYC title two years ago in South Africa, beating perennial rivals Cameroon 3-2 in a tense final game at the Dobsonville Stadium, Johannesburg, to lift the U-20 tournament for a record sixth time.

Having defeated the Malians 2-0 in the semi-final, on the way to the final in 2011, the Flying Eagles have been tipped to once again overcome their West African rivals, just as their seniors— the Super Eagles—did at the 2013 Africa Cup of Nations in South Africa.

Coach John Obuh’s squad strength lies in team understanding. Four players in his present squad: Mohammed Aliyu, Kayode Olanrewaju, captain Adbuljeleel Ajagun and Edafe Egbedi were part of the victorious 2011 team and also played at the Colombia 2011 U-20 World Cup.

Esperance’s Aigbe Oliha will also reunite with the four players, who were his teammates as the Golden Eaglets reached the final of the 2009 U-17 World Cup under Obuh on home soil.

In addition, Heartland striker, Bright Ejike, who bagged a brace as Nigeria crashed out in the 2011 U-20 World Cup quarter-final to France 3-2, is also part of the team that are hoping to extend Nigeria’s wins at the tournament to seven.

The defending champions arrived in Oran on Thursday and are lodged in the three-star Eden Airport Hotel. The team also had its first training same day.

Even though his side are tournament favourites, Obuh insists the Flying Eagles won’t underrate any of their opponents. But he is eyeing a win over Mali as he attempts to fashion out a way for his squad in Group B.

He said, “All the teams who qualified to feature in this competition must be good to reach this stage and so we will not underrate any of them.

“So, what’s most important for us now would be our opening match on Sunday against Mali. You have a great advantage if you win your first match and that is what we wish to do.”

The squad trained in neigbouring Tunisia — a country with near weather conditions to Algeria — for 17 days before they flew into Algiers on Wednesday.

Algeria-based Nigerian striker, Onome Sodje, who plays for CR Belouizdad in the country’s topflight league, believes the U-20 team will draw inspiration from the Super Eagles AFCON triumph in February.

“Hopefully they (Flying Eagles) have all been inspired by what the Eagles have done. There is no pressure on them. They just have to believe in themselves and give their best in every game,” Sodje, who has played in the leagues of England, Slovakia, Vietnam and Malta, said.

He also advised the Nigerian side on what to do considering the weather and pitches.

Sodje added, “The weather in Algeria is not cold right now. I train with just normal shorts and little white socks, so that suggests that it’s not cold; at the same time its not too hot.

“Majority of the pitches here (Algeria) are artificial; that is something we have to watch out for because they are very different from natural grass. But hopefully with the players training on the pitches, they will adapt quickly.”

Former Flying Eagles midfielder, Etim Esin, who represented Nigeria at the Chile ’87 U-20 World Cup, says Obuh’s experience in youth football would come in handy at the tournament.

Esin cautioned the team against writing off any of their opponents

“Obuh’s knowledge of youth football in Africa is not in doubt. He knows the terrain very well and knows what it takes to get the job done at that level.

“The players need to keep their heads up to qualify for the World Cup in Turkey later in the year. As defending champions, all eyes will be on us. And Mali can spring surprises because they are a force at the youth level.

“If we underrate them, it will be at our own peril but again, I hope the best teams qualify to represent Africa creditably well at the World Cup. Hopefully, Nigeria will be among the teams,” Esin said.

The top two teams in each group automatically qualify for the U-20 World Cup scheduled for Turkey from June 21 to July 13.

Punch Nigeria