By George Aluo
The First Vice President of Nigeria Football Federation, Barrister Seyi Akinwunmi has charged the Nigeria U20 team to go all out in their semi final clash with Mali at the Africa U20 Cup of Nations in Niamey on Wednesday.
Speaking after Mali pipped Ghana’s Black Satellites 1-0 to reach the semi finals and pick the last available ticket to the FIFA U20 World Cup finals in Poland this summer, Akinwunmi, who was Match Commissioner for the Mali/Ghana encounter, said he has confidence in the Flying Eagles to reach the Sunday’s final.
“I watched the Flying Eagles against the host team and the fact that they were able to hold their own in such ambience is confirmation that they know what is at stake and have the mettle to face even the strongest opposition.
“The Malians are strong, but so are all the four teams in the semi finals. The NFF will continue to give all necessary support for the Flying Eagles to go all the way by winning the trophy.”
Akinwunmi, here in Niger Republic as a Member of the CAF Committee for Youth Competitions, had also visited the Flying Eagles at their training session on Thursday.
Meanwhile, Nigeria legend Emmanuel Amuneke has advised the Flying Eagles to focus and emphasize more on playing as a team, instead of displaying individual brilliance, as he sees a very tricky semi final clash with the Malians.
“Our players have to do more of team work. The semi final match against Mali would be explosive and would be an interesting one. But if we play as a team rather than players doing their individual thing, we would come out on top,” he said at the Stade Seyni Kountche on Saturday evening. Africa Cup of Nations winner, Olympic gold medallist and two –time FIFA World Cup star Amuneke, who is Head Coach of Tanzania, is in Niger Republic as a Member of the CAF Technical Study Group at this championship.
