Nigeria U-20 coach John Obuh says he is unfazed by the enormous task at hand in the 2011 Africa Youth Championships in Libya.
Nigeria have been drawn in Group B alongside defending champions, Ghana, Cameroon and Gabon in a group widely acclaimed as the group of death.
The Flying Eagles couldn’t have been handed a difficult start to their campaign as they open their account on March 19 against the Black Satelites but Obuh seems un-perturbed. “I’m used to be drawn in ‘Group of Death’, but as far as my team are concerned this is the group of life,” Obuh said.
“I wouldn’t want to believe that there is one or two teams who would be our biggest threat because we will play all three teams with the same determination and focus.
“Our first game will be against Ghana and we know it won’t be easy and that is where we have set to work immediately. “Our immediate target is to reach the last four.”
Ghana are the defending world champions after they made history by becoming the first-ever African side to win the World tournament in Cairo, Egypt, two years ago.
Nigeria have won the competition a record five times, Ghana are three-time winners and Egypt have won it twice. The Nigerian team is expected to begin residential training on January 8 in Abuja with a set of 35 new players.
Host nation Libya head a relatively easier Group A that has Mali, Egypt and Lesotho. Libya are making their debut in the tournament, while Lesotho and The Gambia are appearing for the second time.
The competition is for players under 20 years and the semi-finalists will represent Africa at the FIFA Under-20 World Cup in Colombia later in the year.