ONE of Nigeria’s most successful coaches at international youth level, Manu Garba believed the Flying Eagles have the ammo to hurt the young Teranga Lions when both meet tomorrow in one of the opening matches at the U-20 Africa Cup of Nations.
Garba who last led the Flying Eagles to win Nigeria’s third the U-20 AFCON title in 2015 when the tournament was then known as the African U-20 Championship, said the country can reclaim her glory as the number one country on the continent at this level after winning a total of seven record titles right from the biennial event was known as African U-21 Cup of Nations with four successive wins between 1981 and 1989.
Besides Garba’s 2015 win in Senegal, the Flying Eagles were also African champions in 2005 in Benin under Samson Siasia as well as 2011 in South Africa under coach John Obuh.
Holding this team in Egypt between 19 February and 11 March, Nigeria is drawn in what on paper is a tough preliminary section that housed the hosts Egypt, West African football powerhouse Senegal and Mozambique in Group B of the biennial continental competition which doubles as the qualifying tournament for the forthcoming FIFA U-20 Championship to be held in Indonesia in June.
Garba who last led the Flying Eagles to win Nigeria’s third the U-20 AFCON title in 2015 when the tournament was then known as the African U-20 Championship, said the country can reclaim her glory as the number one country on the continent at this level after winning a total of seven record titles right from the biennial event was known as African U-21 Cup of Nations with four successive wins between 1981 and 1989
Besides Garba’s 2015 win in Senegal, the Flying Eagles were also African champions in 2005 in Benin under Samson Siasia as well as 2011 in South Africa under coach John Obuh.
Holding this term in Egypt between 19 February and 11 March, Nigeria is drawn in what on paper is a tough preliminary section that housed the hosts Egypt, West African football powerhouse Senegal and Mozambique in Group B of the biennial continental competition which doubles as the qualifying tournament for the forthcoming FIFA U-20 Championship to be held in Indonesia in June.