19th March, 2013
Following the 1-0 loss that the defending champions, Nigeria’s Flying Eagles suffered in the hands of Mali on Sunday at the ongoing U-20 Africa Youth Championship (AYC) in Algeria, telecommunications giant and major sponsor of Nigerian national teams, Globacom, has urged Nigerians to sustain their support for the team.
Globacom, in a press statement early today in Lagos advised Nigerians not to allow the loss to Young Eagles of Mali on Sunday to affect their support for Coach John Obuh and his team, expressing the belief in the Nigerian youngsters to turn around the country’s fortune when they meet the Gabon national team on Wednesday.
The Flying Eagles will lock horns with Gabon in the second match in Group B at the on-going African Youth Championship in Oran, Algeria on Wednesday.
“We should not allow the set back against Mali to affect our preparation against Gabon and Congo DR. These are must-win matches which will determine the team’s qualification for the next round,” the Company said.
Globacom charged the Flying Eagles to go the extra mile and re-enact the determination and can-do spirit of an average Nigerian, qualities which won them the trophy during the last competition in South Africa. “We remain optimistic that Flying Eagles will make it to 2013 U-20 World Cup in Turkey, the statement added.
Globacom also advised the Flying Eagles to learn from the recent success story of the Super Eagles, who surmounted all odds in South Africa to emerge the African champions.
The John Obuh-tutored Flying Eagles conceded the goal early in the first half of the match and could not level the score despite dominating the fellow West Africans. They will now have to win in their next Group B games against Gabon and Congo DR to stay in contention for a spot at the FIFA U-20 World Cup billed for Turkey in June.
Globacom is the major telecommunication partner of Nigeria Football Federation, NFF and official sponsor of Nigerian national teams.