FLYING EAGLES COACH MANU MAKES CHANGES FOR TANZANIA REMATCH

Flying Eagles coach Manu Garba plans several changes to his starting XI for Saturday’s 2015 African Youth Championship qualifier against Tanzania in Kaduna.

Nigeria U20s beat their Tanzanian counterparts 2-0 in Dar es Salaam a fortnight ago.

Coach Manu is now most likely to start Abubakar Aliyu ahead of Izu Omego in the heart of the defence alongside Wilfred Ndidi.

Aliyu is a big, commanding central defender and he is expected to deal better with the long balls of the Tanzanians and their bigger strikers.

And the coach will also have to decide on whether to start FC Porto forward Chidera Eze ahead of his most effective striker Alhassan Ibrahim ‘Mu-azam’.

Eze has picked form since he recovered from a hamstring injury which ensured he did not make the trip to Tanzania.

‘Mu-azam’ has struggled with hamstring strains days leading to the return match, but his defensive capabilities could well give him the nod ahead of Eze.

Taiwo Awoniyi will again lead the attack after he scored in the first leg in Tanzania.

Meanwhile, visiting Ngorongoro Heroes of Tanzania suffered a huge setback going into the second leg in Kaduna as they will be without skipper and goalkeeper Aishi Manula.

Ngorongoro coach John Simkoko said Manula, who was forced out after the first half of the first leg due to injury, is on full international duty with Tanzania after he recovered from the injury.

Interestingly, Tanzania are fresh from a training stint in Qatar.

Officials disclosed that as many as 6,000 security men will be on duty at the Ahmadu Bello Stadium in Kaduna.

“Everything is being done to ensure the safety of everyone involved in this match,” said a top police officer.

Flying Eagles target another win against Tanzania

Flying Eagles players have said they hope to complete a home and away win over the Ngorongoro Heroes of Tanzania on Saturday in Kaduna to advance to the third round of the 2015 African Youth Championship qualifiers.

The Nigeria U20s won the first leg 2-0 in Dar es Salaam about a fortnight ago.

“We are not relaxing on the result from the first match. For us, Saturday’s match is a different game altogether and we want to win it,” said striker Alhassan Ibrahim aka Mu-azam.

“We respect the Tanzanians, but we are a better team and we will prove this on Saturday.”

Mustapha Abdullahi added: “It’s an important game and we will fight to win it.

“We will not take anything for granted.”

In 2012, Nigeria also eliminated Tanzania from the African Youth Championship.

The Flying Eagles won 2-1 in Dar es Salaam before they again won 2-0 in Ilorin.

The Flying Eagles have endured several injury problems from the first leg, but all squad players including Kelechi Iheanacho, Wilfred Ndidi and Izu Omego have since bounced back to full fitness.

After training twice on Monday, the Flying Eagles will now train only once leading up to the match on Saturday at the Ahmadu Bello Stadium.

Kick-off time is 4pm.

Flying Eagles off to bright start in AYC qualifiers

Nigeria’s Flying Eagles got off to a bright start in the 2015 AYC qualifiers after they beat hosts Tanzania 2-0 in Dar es Salaam in a second round, first leg clash on Sunday.

The Flying Eagles scored in the 49th minute through Musa Yahaya and killed off the contest in the 82nd minute courtesy of striker Taiwo Awoniyi.

“This win away from home is very, very good for us going into the return leg match in Nigeria,” Flying Eagles coach Manu Garba told reporters after the match watched by a fair crowd at the 60,000-capacity National Stadium in Dar es Salaam.

“Tanzania also showed they are a very good side, but they will have to work on their finishing.

“Overall, it was the better team that won even though I was not completely satisfied with the final 15 minutes of the game as we sat back in our defence.”

However, Ngorongoro of Tanzania coach John Simkoko insisted they have not given up hope and said they will battle in the return match in Nigeria in a fortnight.

“Nigeria were the better team and deserved to win,” he admitted.

“But the battle is not over yet as we will come prepared to Nigeria.”

It was a goalless first half, but Nigeria enjoyed more of the ball possession and created more chances with their biggest opening coming after 24 minutes, when Musa Yahaya blasted wide from inside the six-yard.

Newly drafted striker Saad Kipanga from Mbeya City also had a glorious chance to put his team ahead after just five minutes, but his header from inside the box missed its target.

The home team suffered a major blow when first-choice goalkeeper and skipper Aishi Manula could not continue after a thigh injury in the first period.

He was therefore replaced by Peter Manyika for the resumption of the second half.

Four minutes after the break, Tanzania’s worst fears came to be as Musa Yahaya slotted past the goalkeeper from the near post after a low cross by skipper Musa Muhammed.

Kelechi Iheanacho, who replaced Alhassan Ibrahim ‘Mu-azam’ for the second half, was denied a goal in the 54th minute by a piece of brilliant goalkeeping by Manyika.

Flying Eagles goalkeeper Joshua Enaholo ensured he kept a clean sheet when he made a big save in 67th minute and he will again pull off another save late on as Tanzania attacked.

But Awoniyi killed off the tie eight minutes from time, when he held off his marker and stand-in captain Pato Ngonyani, before he slotted past the onrushing goalkeeper.

The home team created several openings late on to at least reduce the tally, but Abdallah Kheri and Juma Liuzio both failed to find target from inside the 18-yard box.

Flying Eagles vs Tanzania

Joshua Enaholo – Musa Muhammed (skipper), Mustapha Abdullahi, Wilfred Ndidi, Izu Omego – Akinjide Idowu, Ifeanyi Matthew, Abdullahi Alfa, Musa Yahaya (Chidiebere Nwakali 74) – Alhassan Ibrahim ‘Mu-azam’ (Kelechi Iheanacho 46), Taiwo Awoniyi

Manu keeps faith with Flying Eagles vs Tanzania

Coach Manu Garba has kept faith with the team who lost last week’s warm-up against Benin 1-0 in Cotonou.

This means Manchester City duo of Kelchi Iheanacho and Chidiebere Nwakali will start from the bench as they did in Cotonou.

Manu had toyed with the idea of starting both players, but has eventually chosen a more cautious approach as his team are playing away from home.

His 4-4-2 formation diamond will see Wilfred Ndidi partner Izu Omego in the heart of the back four, while Akinjide Idowu will be the ball winner for a talented midfield that boasts Musa Yahaya and playmaker Ifeanyi Matthew.

Alhassan Ibrahim ‘Mu-azam’ and Taiwo Awoniyi will lead the Flying Eagles charge for goals.

Flying Eagles vs Tanzania

Joshua Enaholo – Musa Muhammed (skipper), Mustapha Abdullahi, Wilfred Ndidi, Izu Omego – Akinjide Idowu, Ifeanyi Matthew, Abdullahi Alfa, Musa Yahaya – Alhassan Ibrahim ‘Mu-azam’, Taiwo Awoniyi

Tanzania bullish ahead AYC qualifier

Both the Tanzania U20 team and the local papers here in Dar es Salaam are talking confidently ahead of Sunday’s AYC qualifier against the Flying Eagles.

Coach of the Ngorongoro Heroes, John Simkoko, said they hope to win against mighty Nigeria.

“It’s going to be a great test for us, we all know that Nigeria have a strong team that boast a lot of experience playing in the competition, but we’ve got to rise to the occasion,” said Simkoko.

“We have set our focus on eliminating them as we want to reach the finals, and to achieve our mission we have to beat them on Sunday.”

The Citizen on Sunday headlined its preview ‘Heroes out to tame Eagles’ and The Sunday News titled theirs ‘Heroes out to gun down Eagles’.

Both previews spoke of the Flying Eagles awesome record in this competition, but the host team could still shock them on Sunday.

Benin shock Flying Eagles in warm-up

Nigeria’s Flying Eagles Class of 2015 suffered their first defeat when they fell 1-0 to hosts Benin in an AYC warm-up in Cotonou on Sunday.

“We had a poor first half, but in the second half, we controlled the game. We had a much, much better second half,” said Flying Eagles coach Manu Garba.

“The home team adopted delay tactics after they scored and the referee ought to have given the goalkeeper at least a yellow card for time wasting, but he did not.

“All the same, we will put this loss behind us and shift our attention to the match in Tanzania this coming weekend.
“We hope to win in Tanzania so that the second leg in Nigeria will be a mere formality.”

Benin match winner was skipper Seibou Mama, who fired home past goalkeeper Joshua Enaholo in the 48th minute from distance.
It was the only shot at target by the home team, who started three Europe-based stars including Moise Adilehou from FC Porto.
The visiting Nigeria U20s thereafter piled on the pressure in search of an equaliser.

Outstanding goalkeeper Sheyi Damilola, one of several players with Nigerian roots, again ensured Benin recorded another famous win over Nigeria just after he stopped the Golden Eaglets at the WAFU B tournament in Togo.

The former Bolowotan FC of Lagos shot stopper made a double save after 55 minutes after Taiwo Awoniyi saw his shot crash against the post.

Wilfred Ndidi and substitute Kelechi Iheanacho also had openings to draw the Flying Eagles level but Damilola was at his best.
The Flying Eagles started the first half on the front foot with Alhassan Ibrahim aka Mu-azam first to shoot at goal after two minutes, but his shot screamed across the face of goal.

Benin full international coach Didier Olle-Nicolle and Eagles assistant coach Valere were in the stands to watch the match.
Awoniyi had two chances to score in the first 45 minutes with his miss in the 39th minute, when he was all alone, but he ballooned his lob well off the mark.

And a minute from half time, Musa Yahaya’s audacious effort narrowly missed target.

Flying Eagles vs Benin
Joshua Enaholo – Musa Muhammed (skipper), Mustapha Abdullahi, Wilfred Ndidi, Izu Omego – Akinjide Idowu, Ifeanyi Matthew, Abdullahi Alfa, Musa Yahaya (Kelechi Iheanacho 57) – Alhassan Ibrahim ‘Mu-azam’(Sulaiman Abdullahi 57, Chidiebere Nwakali 77)
Booking: Mustapha Abdullahi 28

Flying Eagles set for tough Benin test

Flying Eagles arrived in Cotonou Saturday afternoon ahead of an AYC qualifier warm-up against hosts Benin the following day.

The test match will be played at the Stade Rene Pleven Cotonou 2 by 4pm.

It was the same venue both teams played out a 1-1 draw two years ago.

NFF president’s special adviser Patrick Pascal has warned the Flying Eagles should expect a physical challenge from the home team after he accompanied the Golden Eaglets to lose the Benin U17 in a WAFU B U17 Championship.

“They will not take this game as a friendly and they will most likely line up big and strong players like was the case against us in Togo,” warned the ex-international.

The home team had earlier planned to camp the Flying Eagles in Porto Novo, where they are also training, and both teams would then make the hour-long bus ride to Cotonou on match day.

However, coach Manu Garba kicked against this arrangement and the Flying Eagles were booked into Bresilia Hotel, which is a five-minute drive from the match venue.

Incidentally, Nigeria Premier League club El Kanemi Warriors stayed at this hotel for their pre-season training tour of Benin recently.

The Nigeria U20s could not train on Saturday evening as hoped because a league game was being played at the match venue.

They hope they could now shake up fatigue with an early Sunday morning session.

Coach Manu is expected to ring two changes to his settled first team with Izu Omego in for Zaharadeen Bello in the heart of the back four.

Ifeanyi Ifeanyi will also replace defensive midfielder Akinjide Idowu in the starting XI.

Both teams are using this match to prepare for this weekend’s AYC qualifiers.

Nigeria will be away to Tanzania, while Benin battle Congo also away from home.

Flying Eagles pick Iheanacho, Musa Yahaya for Benin warm-up

The Nigeria U20 team have named a 20-man squad for Sunday’s warm-up match against their Benin Republic counterparts in Porto Novo.

Among those picked were the country’s heroes from last year’s FIFA U17 World Cup-winning team like Kelechi Iheanacho, skipper Musa Muhammed, Chidiebere Nwakali, Musa Yahaya, Taiwo Awoniyi, Abdullahi Alfa and Zaharadeen Bello.

Others on the squad are Alhassan Ibrahim aka Mu-azam, Wilfred Ndidi, Ifeanyi Matthew and goalkeeper Joshua Enaholo.

The test match will be played at Charles de Gaulle Stadium in Porto Novo from 4pm local time, which is the same time with Nigeria.

Both teams have clashed at the same level previously.

They drew 1-1 in Cotonou in September 2012 and a rematch in Abuja ended in a goalless draw.

Two players will then be dropped from the squad for the 2015 AYC qualifier in Tanzania in the weekend of May 9-11.

NFF executive committee member Shehu Adamu will lead the team to both Benin and Tanzania.

The full squad:

Goalkeepers: Joshua Enaholo, Adamu Abubakar, Abdulazeez Abubakar

Defenders: Musa Muhammed, Mustapha Abdullahi, Ifeanyi Nweke, Wilfred Ndidi, Izu Omego, Zaharadeen Bello

Midfielders: Chidiebere Nwakali, Musa Yahaya, Kelechi Iheanacho, Abdullahi Alfa, Akinjide Idowu, Wasiu Jimoh, Ifeanyi Matthew, Ifeanyi Ifeanyi

Strikers: Alhassan Ibrahim ‘Mu-azam’, Taiwo Awoniyi, Sulaiman Abdullahi