25th May, 2012
Nigeria’s U-20 team, the Flying Eagles, will later today in Cape Town, South Africa, begin their quest to defend the title they won last year as they tackle their Ghanaian counterparts in an 8-Nation International tourney.
The coach John Obuh-led Flying Eagles will play the second game of the opening day against arch-rivals Ghana at 20:30 hours local time, which is 7.30p.m Nigerian time, after host nation, South Africa would have played South American giants, Argentina in the opening match of the tourney.
Both matches will be played at the Athlone Stadium, home ground of South African Premier League clubs; Ajax Cape Town and Santos Football Club.
The teams are using this tournament to prepare for their continental qualifiers ahead of the 2013 FIFA U-20 World Cup to be staged in Turkey.
Speaking ahead of their match against the Black Meteors of Ghana on brilafm early today, Obuh said: “We are battle ready to confront our West African arch-rivals later tonight in continuation of our rebuilding process and the preparation for the 2013 Africa Youth Championship qualifier against Tanzania in July.”
Obuh’s new team are made up of some top players in the Nigeria Premier League, NPL, like Enugu Rangers striker, Alhaji Gero, Uche Agbo, Nzube Anaezemba, both of Enyimba, as well as Kano Pillars ace, Shehu Abdullahi.
Other teams in the competition are world champions, Brazil, Argentina, Japan, Cameroon and Kenya.
—Bamidele Olowosagba