Coach of the Nigeria under-20 national team, Manu Garba, has declared his side “ready” for Sunday’s African Youth Championship (AYC) showdown in Dakar.
Enugu Rangers midfielder Obinna Nwobodo and skipper Musa Muhammed got among the goals at the Stade Leopold Sedar Senghor on Wednesday evening to take the Flying Eagles through to the final of the African Under-20 Championship in Senegal.
Musa watched his free-kick crash off the crossbar moment before the break after Wikki Tourist striker, Usman Sale, had made a meal of an early opening.
Victory- though not from a commanding display by Nigeria as Ghana also had their own share of chances- was however secured, placing the six-time winners on the path of either Mali or hosts Senegal in the title match.
“It was a keenly contested game. My boys did not take off early. The best team won,” Manu quipped. “We created a lot of chances and could have scored more than two.
“Our objective is to be champions and whether it’s Mali or Senegal, we are ready for them.”
Ghana coach Silas Tetteh reckoned Musa’s spot-kick dealt his side’s ambition a killer punch after the likes of Yaw Yeboah, Clifford Aboagye fell short of an equaliser.
Tetteh said: “I’m hugely disappointed because we weren’t clinical. We got good looking chances to finish it but we couldn’t. Our opponents got not too clear chances and they scored twice, but that is football. The boys gave everything except the finishing was our problem.
“Nigeria was fortunate have an early goal and at the time we were pushing they got a penalty and scored the second. I don’t take anything from them. They seized the chance.”
Why are we still looking for a coach for our national team when have Manu, an achiever, who looks sincere, is committed and hardworking. He selects the best players judiciously. I think he sacrifices personal, selfish interests before he can achieve his results. Nigeriand think about this!
Exactly what I was thinking,Manu should be the next super eagles coach.he c is getting better.he is more of an international achiever he has won u 17th will win Africa u 20 and also possibly the world cup.he has a lot to bring to the super eagles but not politics would not allow him.in countries like Brazil he would be giving the senior team to handle