29 April 2011
President of the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF), Aminu Maigari, has said Nigeria would reclaim the African Youth Championship for West Africa after defending champions Ghana made an early exit from the tournament in South Africa.
Nigerias Flying Eagles defeated the Junior Eagles of Mali 2-0 at Dobsonville Stadium in Soweto in the first semi-final of the AYC and now play the final on Sunday at the same venue.
Champions five times previously, the Flying Eagles have already booked a place in the 2011 FIFA U-20 World Cup finals slated for Colombia later in the year, and have been drawn in Group B against Croatia, Saudi Arabia and Guatemala.
Speaking after goals by Uche Nwofor and Stanley Okoro sent Nigeria into the championship match, Maigari said the Flying Eagles are not only capable fo taking the place of Ghana as African champions, but would also replace the Black Satellites as champions of the world.
We have a team that has ambition and continues to improve with every game. I am happy that we have qualified for the final but the ultimate is the trophy, the NFF boss said.
You know, the Ghanaians were the champions of Africa, and they are our brothers. So, we have to do well to keep the trophy in West Africa, said Maigari.
Speaking further, the NFF president was of the opinion that the Nigeria U-20 is also capable of replacing the Ghanaians at the top of the global game.
Nigeria and Ghana have remained big names in youth football in the word over the decades. Nigeria have won the U-17 title three times, in 1985, 1993 and 2007. Ghana won in 1991 and 1995. Nigeria have been in the FIFA U-20 World Cup final on two occasions, in 1989 and 2005. Ghana also played in the final in 1993 and 2001 before winning in 2009 in Egypt.
So, you can see that it is time for Nigeria to win the U-20 World Cup. And though I would not say the draw was easy for us, we would strive to prepare the team very well for the challenge of the World Cup in Colombia.
Nigeria play their opening match of the FIFA World Cup against Guatemala on July 31 in Armenia, and take on Croatia at the same venue on August 3 before moving to Pereira to tackle Saudi Arabia three days later.
