ABUJA – Sports Minister Tammy Danagogo on Saturday charged the country’s national under-20 male football team to be focused in the hunt for a place at the FIFA U-20 World Cup.
In a statement by his Special Assistant on Media, Patrick Omorodion, the minister said the team should be able to prove themselves as a solid team.
[pro_ad_display_adzone id=”10″]
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the Flying Eagles battle hosts Senegal in the opening game of the 19th African Youth Championship in Dakar on Sunday.
They are one of eight teams at the biennial championship which has on offer four tickets to the global event in New Zealand later in the year.
“This team (The Flying Eagles), which transmuted from the all-conquering Golden Eaglets that won the FIFA U-17 World Cup in the UAE in 2013, should be able to prove that they have formed a solid blend in two years.
“But first, they have to remain focused as a team so that they pick one of the tickets available for the FIFA U-20 World Cup, which is their primary target.
“Again as a team which graduated from the victorious under-17 of 2013, they should prove that they have matured in two years to be able to stand any opposition,’’ Danagogo said.
The minister, who is also the Chairman of the National Sports Commission (NSC), said Nigerians expected them to do well in Senegal.
“But, most importantly, we expect that like they did two years ago as under-17s in the UAE, they should be able to prove to the world that they are now a formidable team that can go all the way,” he said.
NAN reports that the Flying Eagles last won the African title in 2011 in South Africa when they beat Cameroon 3-2 in the final.
They will be playing alongside hosts Senegal, Cote d’Ivoire and Congo in Group A, while Ghana, South Africa, Mali and Zambia are in Group B.(NAN)
banker of the day - FREE banker tips from experts