Buoyant Flying Eagles seek 7th AYC title

The team dominated by players that won Nigeria her fourth FIFA U-17 title in the United Arab Emirates in 2013 is seeking to win its seventh Africa Youth Championship title.Nigeria has remained the most successful country in this Confederation of African Football, CAF, youth championship having won it a record seven times. The Flying Eagles […]

The team dominated by players that won Nigeria her fourth FIFA U-17 title in the United Arab Emirates in 2013 is seeking to win its seventh Africa Youth Championship title.
Nigeria has remained the most successful country in this Confederation of African Football, CAF, youth championship having won it a record seven times. The Flying Eagles emerged champion in 1983, 1985, 1987, 1989, 2005 and 2011.
They came second twice in 1999 and 2007 and were third in 1979, 1981, 1995, 2009 and 2013.
Egypt are next to Nigeria on four titles won in 1981, 1991, 2003 and 2013. Ghana are in third place on three titles won in 1983, 1999 and 2009.
Cameroon, Algeria, Morocco, Angola and Congo have one AYC title each but powerhouses like Zambia, South Africa, Tunisia, Mali, Guinea and Ivory Coast are yet to taste the AYC glory.
Consequently, 2015 AYC offers Cote d’Ivoire in Group A and Mali, Zambia and South Africa who are in Group B the opportunity to break the jinx.
Although the stakes are really high, the Nigerian team coached by Manu Garba, twice winner of the FIFA World U-17 Championship is brimming with confidence. The reason is not far-fetched. Eight of the 21 players who are in Senegal to represent Nigeria were in the team that won the 2013 U-17 World Cup in UAE.
Furthermore, four key members of the Golden Eaglets who did not make it to the World Cup due to MRI test that they failed have returned to the Flying Eagles. They are Bernard Bulbwa, Izu Omega, Ifeanyi Matthew and wonder kid Abdullahi Ibrahim Alhassan ‘Muazam’.
The return of those players is said to be morale booster because they are expected to make up for the absence of foreign pros like kelechi Iheanacho, Chidebere Nwakali, Wilfred Ndidi, Success Isaac and Musa Yahaya.
Apart from the Super 4 tournament in Abuja and the two international friendly matches against fellow 2015 Africa Youth Championship campaigners, the Satellites of Ghana, the team did not embark on any foreign training tour.
For reasons best known to the Nigeria Football Federation, the team’s proposed training tour of Gambia did not hold.
However, it is pertinent to say that Flying Eagles performances from the qualifiers to the Super 4 and other friendly matches have conferred invincibility on the team.
It is also too early to forget how the youngsters made a mice meat of Nigeria Premier League clubs like Pillars, Enyimba, Dolphins and Warri Wolves before drawing 3-3 with the National U-23 team in the pulsating finals of the Super 4 competition. The performance of the team endeared it to the hearts of football loving Nigerians.
Against this background, the Flying Eagles have not hidden their intention to win their seventh trophy in Senegal. From the Head Coach, Manu Garba to the players, the team is exuding infectious confidence.
On Wednesday when the team was leaving Abuja for Dakar, Manu said “We as a team always want to win every game we play and that is the attitude we will take to the AYC.
“We will not underrate any team in Senegal, but we are confident we will do the nation proud”.
The team captain, Musa Mohammed who has graduated with seven other members of the world conquering Golden Eaglets to the Flying Eagles said “The truth is that we cannot pretend that there is no pressure but honestly we are capable of handling any kind of pressure.
“Most of the players in the present team were part of the squad that won the 2013 FIFA U-17 World Cup so we are used to the big stage.
“We have struck the needed understanding and are working hard to win another trophy for Nigeria. So our target is to first qualify for the World Cup and also win the trophy”.
On his part, returnee striker, Bernard Bulbwa said “Our group is a strong one. It is not a normal group. Mind you we have the host country in this group.
“But we are not looking down on any team or group. As a team we have a bond that keeps us strong. We don’t want to know if it is Barcelona, Bayern or Real Madrid.
“We can beat any other team any day. That is our philosophy. And another thing that makes us strong again is there is no tiredness in our vocabulary.
“We keep coming at you.  You may try to contain us in the first half but we wear you out in the second half. So our opponents should be ready for war.
“We want to qualify for the 2015 World Cup and also return to Nigeria with the trophy. That is our collective desire”.
So as the Flying Eagles come up against the Junior Lions of Senegal in the opening match of the 2015 AYC, the team will rely on the experience of Musa Mohammed, Sunday Alampasu, Zaharadeen Bello, Samuel Okon, Akinjide Idowu, Abdullahi Alfa, Taiwo Awoniyi and FC Porto’s Chidera Ezeh who are all members of the 2013 world conquering Golden Eaglets.
As stated earlier, Bernard Bulbwa, Ifeanyi Matthew, Izu Omega and Ibrahim Hassan who have rejoined the team will also help in propelling it.
Interestingly, Christian Pyagbara who featured in the 2013 Africa Youth Championship and 2013 World Cup in Turkey is also in Senegal and should bring his wealth of experience to bear on the team.
The Nigeria Football Federation has since charged the Flying Eagles to win the AYC and confirm that the U17 World Cup victory was not accidental.
“The president is particularly delighted that the bulk of the squad to Senegal are from the team who won the U17 World Cup two years ago.
“The target to the team therefore is for the team to win the AYC and confirm that winning the U17 World Cup was not a fluke,” said NFF Deputy Secretary General, Emmanuel Ikpeme.