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The Under-20 National Team, the Flying Eagles, will today begin their campaign for the WAFU Cup tournament, as they clash with the Junior Mena of Niger Republic, holding in Togo.
The Nigerian side, on Friday, shocked the Black Satellites of Ghana 1-0 in the opening match of Group B to send warning signals to seven-time African champions- Nigeria.
Hosts, Togo head Group A that also has Burkina Faso, Senegal and Mali, but the withdrawal of Benin Republic depleted Nigeria’s Group B. After playing Niger Republic today, the Flying Eagles will have to wait until Wednesday for their next match against arch rivals, Ghana, which is going to be a potentially explosive encounter.
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Head Coach, Paul Aigbogun yesterday said that the clash with Niger Republic at the Stade Municipal would be approached with all the seriousness it deserves.
“The fact that Niger Republic defeated Ghana is a message for us. No team can be underrated these days. We will take the game as a battle and ensure we come out victorious. The Flying Eagles are seven–time champions of Africa; it is a pedigree that we intend to sustain.”
In Thursday’s opening matches, hosts Togo lost 0-1 to Mali and Senegal defeated Burkina Faso 2-0.
