Manu – Flying Eagles Aiming To Go All The Way To 2015 World Cup

Coach of the Nigeria U-20 team, Manu Garba has set his sights on qualifying for the 2015 Fifa World Cup in New Zealand as African champions.

Nigeria’s Flying Eagles have already clinched qualification for the 2015 African Youth Championship in Senegal and will realise their fate on Sunday, when the draw for the finals is conducted in Cairo Egypt.

Speaking ahead of the draw, Manu expressed optimism concerning the team’s ambition for Senegal 2015, scheduled for March 8 through 22.

“The target for the team is to win the AYC and so qualify for the World Cup in New Zealand as the best team in Africa, Manu declared.

Manu Garba Says Flying Eagles Want to Qualify for the Fifa U-20 World Cup as African Champions. Image: Getty.
Manu Garba Says Flying Eagles Want to Qualify for the Fifa U-20 World Cup as African Champions. Image: Getty.

“We want to be champions again and we want to do this in style.

“We know it won’t be easy, but we are working very hard to achieve this target.”

Nigeria have won the AYC a record six times, with their last triumph being in 2011. They finished third-placed in the previous edition behind winners Egypt and runners-up Ghana.

As part of the team’s preparation for next year’s tournament, Manu’s side beat Jamba Academy 4-1 and Standard FC of Zaria 12-0 in their first two test matches.

They will play Ace Academy of Kaduna on Wednesday morning at the Ahmadu Bello Stadium in Kaduna. They have also lined up another test game against YSFON national selection at the same venue on Friday.

The team will break for Christmas on Saturday and reconvene in Kaduna on December 27.