Chief coach of the national U-20 team, Manu Garba, has called on Nigerians, especially football lovers, to pray for the success of the Flying Eagles, as the 2015 African Youth Championship (AYC) kicks off in Dakar, Senegal.
Garba said the call became necessary for the team to avert what befell the national U-17 team, the Golden Eaglets, which came fourth at the recent U-17 championship held in Niger. Though the team picked one of the four slots to represent Africa at the forthcoming FIFA U-17 World Cup billed for Chile.
He said: “Irrespective of the fact that the technical crew of the team under my leadership has assembled some of the best legs for the championship, I still want Nigerians to pray for the success of the team.
“We want to end the championship not only as one of the continent’s representatives for the FIFA World Cup in New Zealand later in the year, but ending the championship as African champions.
“There is no doubt that we have painstakingly selected 23 players that we feel will give their best to get the results that will win the World Cup ticket and the AYC trophy for the country.
“With God on our side, we will return home victorious. We have what it takes to win the AYC, but we also need prayers and support from football-loving Nigerians to succeed.
“Mind you, all the eight teams that would be taking part in the AYC are capable of winning the championship, and so we will not take things for granted.”
Eight teams divided into two groups are participating in the championship that kicks off today.
The Flying Eagles will begin its quest for the championship against hosts, Senegal, today from 5.30pm (Nigerian time) at the Stade Leopold Sedar Senghor in Dakar, while Congo will take on Cote d’Ivoire in the group’s second match later in the day.
The Flying Eagles will take on Congo on Wednesday, March 11, before its last group match against the Junior Elephants of Cote d’Ivoire on Saturday, March 14.
The final group game against the Ivorians will be played at the Stade Caroline Faye in M’bour, which is a short bus ride from Dakar and the base for Group B.
In Group B are Ghana, South Africa, Mali and Zambia.
Ghana will take on South Africa in the group’s first match on Monday, March 9, and Mali will take on Zambia in the group’s second match on the same day.
The four semi-finalists at the championship will represent the continent at this year’s FIFA Under-20 World Cup billed for New Zealand in May.
