NFF target African Youth Championship success

NIGERIA’S Under-20s have been challenged by the country’s football federation to win the upcoming African Youth Championship in Senegal.

The bulk of the squad won the Under-17s World Cup two years ago.

Nigeria Football Federation deputy secretary general Emmanuel Ikpeme said: The target is for the team to win the AYC and confirm that winning the U17 World Cup was not a fluke.

The Flying Eagles begin their campaign against the hosts on Sunday March 8.

Ikpeme told the team: “Do not expect it to be an easy match but we believe you are up to the task going by what you showed in your recent test matches in Ghana.

“We should not take any match or opponent for granted and so you should resolve as a team to make Nigeria happy and proud in Senegal.”

Coach Manu Garba assured the NFF the team are fired up for glory in Senegal.

“We as a team always want to win every game we play and that is the attitude we will take to the AYC,” Manu said. “We will not underrate any team in Senegal, but we are confident we will do the nation proud.”

Eight teams will take part in the tournament, to be played between, 8 and 22 March, with the semi-finalists qualifying for the 2015 U-20 World Cup.