Siasia Tips F/Eagles For AYC

With a final qualifying match against South Africa yet to be played, former Super Eagles’ coach, Samson Siasia has tipped Nigeria’s Under-20 team, the Flying Eagles to qualify for the African Youth Championship, AYC, to be hosted by Algeria.

The 19th edition of the bi-annual tourney would be hosted in North African cities of  Algiers and Aïn Témouchent, from16–30 March, 2013.

After they saw off Tanzania in the previous qualifying round, Nigeria’s Flying Eagles were drawn against South Africa in the last two legged round of qualifier scheduled for September.

While speaking on Brila FM on the chances of the John Obuh-led team to qualify ahead of the Amajitas, as the South African side are popularly called by their fans, Siasia said: “As the defending champions of the AYC, and considering the manner they got to this stage of the tourney, I expect nothing but for them to qualify ahead of South Africa.

“We know them very well having played against them in an eight-nation invitational tournament in South Africa in May. Though they beat us 0-1 in the final but this time around I expect the Flying Eagles to beat them because of the calibre of players we have in the team now.”

The Flying Eagles are already in camp at the Ilorin Township Stadium in Kwara State.

South Africa have qualified for the AYC on five previous occasions as well as got to the finals of the FIFA Under 20 World Cup in 1997 and 2009.

Goal Drought Don’t Worry Arteta

The Spaniard was a disappointed man after the goalless draw at Stoke on Sunday. Traditionally, Arsène Wenger’s side have struggled at the Britannia Stadium but they were the better side at the weekend. The only thing they failed to do was hit the net.

It was Arsenal’s second successive shut-out of the season but Arteta believes a Wenger side will not be goal-shy for long. They just need to be afforded a little patience – especially the new additions in attack.

“We need to find the right balance to get the results,” said Arteta. “Being more creative can mean you are more open and concede more goals.

“We created enough chances to win the game but if you don’t take them this can happen and, for me, we lost two points.

“But we looked really organised too and I can’t remember a chance from them really. We can take some positives but we just need to get back to scoring too.

“Santi Cazorla has been very good. He finds it comfortable in the free role and we need to get him on the ball because he can have a big influence. Lukas Podolski was really good on the left today. He was coming inside and causing problems too. Giroud had some chances as well.

“We need to give them some time and not put them under pressure. You can’t do in two games what other people have done in eight years. It is impossible. We have to be calm.

“And it can change like that. Last week Olivier had a massive chance to win the game [against Sunderland] and he would have been a hero. I am happy because they have been looking good in training and I know it will come.”

—Bamidele Olowosagba