Nigeria: Flying Eagles Reach Last Four, Qualify for World Cup

24 April 2011

Nigeria’s U-20 team, Flying Eagles swept into the semi finals of the 17th African Youth Championship on Easter Sunday, overpowering Gambia 2-0 at the Milpark Stadium.

FIFA U-17 World Cup Nigeria 2009 heroes Stanley Okoro and Ramon Azeez gave Nigerians much to smile about during the Easter period by taking all three points to come second in Group B – the tournament’s so-called ‘Group of Death’.

Both goals came in the second half but overall, the John Obuh boys did much better than was on display in the 1-0 loss to Cameroon on Thursday.

Victory also meant the Flying Eagles would be one of Africa’s four flag-bearers at the FIFA U-20 World Cup finals in Colombia July/August this year – a competition Nigeria have not missed since Samson Siasia’s Class of 2005 finished as runners-up in The Netherlands.

Additionally, it meant the Nigeria U-20 squad is now eligible for a four-nation invitational tournament to be hosted by Korea Republic in Suwon City, May 5-10.

Players and officials would be at the embassy of Korea Republic in Johannesburg on Friday this week to pick up their entry visas into the Far East nation for the invitational.

Sunday’s result at Milpark Stadium was the biggest win of the so-called ‘Group of Death’, in which only 11 goals were recorded in six games. Cameroon qualified as Group winners, following a 1-1 draw with Ghana that gave the Cub Lions seven points, one better than Nigeria.

John Obuh’s side now play Mali, a team boasting of several six-footers and which earned the biggest win of the group phase in its 4-2 defeat of hosts South Africa on the opening day.

That first semi final comes up at Dobsonville Stadium by noon on Thursday, with Cameroon and Egypt to take the pitch in the second semi final immediately after.

Meanwhile, former Super Eagles handler, Christian Chukwu believes the Flying Eagles have want it takes to emerge winners of the

African Youth Championship here in South Africa.

The man who coached the Super Eagles between 2002 and 2005, now a member of the NFF Technical Committee, was at the Milpark Stadium on Easter Sunday when Stanley Okoro and Ramon Azeez scored to give Nigeria a 2-0 win over Gambia and earn a ticket to the semi finals and the 2011 FIFA U-20 World Cup.

“I see a lot of quality in the Flying Eagles’ team, and I believe they have what it takes to win the trophy. The players are skilful, dogged and they persevere, which are good ingredients for a team that wants to succeed.

“They also happen to have a good coach who knows how to read the game. I am sure they can win the Cup,” said Chukwu.

AllAfrica – All the Time