Leadership (Abuja)
Jonathan Isaiah
28 April 2011
Abuja — The Flying Eagles tackle Mali in the semi-final of the U-20 Africa Nations Cup today. The Flying Eagles, who have already qualified for the World Cup in Colombia due to their qualification to the semi final will today know their opponents in the World Cup. Of all the four teams left in the semi final, Mali are the only one never to have claimed the crown and will be playing in the final for the first time, if they can beat Nigeria.
Nigeria are five time winners of the competition and are gunning for their sixth title. The Flying Eagles will be missing star midfielder, Ahmed Musa, who played in the first game against Ghana, but returned to his club, VVV Venlo and the Nigerian Football Federation request for his return to the team has been turned down by his Dutch club.
NFF president, Aminu Maigari, has promised the flying Eagles an improved bonus, should they beat Mali and qualify for the final. “You have made millions of Nigerians happy by qualifying for the World Cup and now, you can make them even happier by reaching the final and going on to win the competition,” Maigari told the Flying Eagles at their Garden Court Hotel in Kempton Park, Johannesburg.
“This match is as crucial as the match against Gambia, where you needed to win to guarantee your qualification to the World Cup.
“I will therefore, meet with my officials and come out with an improved package for you.
Also, Nigeria will be without the services of Gani Ogungbe, who suffered a thigh strain in last Sunday’s 2-0 win over Gambia and had to be pulled out in stoppage time. For Mali, they will be missing midfielder Doumbia Cherif , striker Coulibaly Kalifa and Diarra Mady
Coach John Obuh said that he hoped his team improved defensively for this tie and also has dismissed fear that the Malian U-20 team have a physical edge over his squad. Obuh acknowledged that though his team’s opponents at the Dobsonville Stadium in Soweto were taller, he was confident his players would reach the final.
“Football is not about size. The most important thing is your brain. After all, the best player in the world (Lionel Messi) is not the biggest player around.
“By the time we clash with them, we will know who will come out tops – the size or the brain,” Obuh said.
The match will kick off 11 am local time.
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Nigeria: AYC – Flying Eagles go for Broke Against Mali