Keshi urges Flying Eagles to emulate Super Eagles

Super Eagles Head Coach, Stephen Keshi, has urged the Flying Eagles to do Nigeria proud at the African Youth Championship in Algeria.
The Flying Eagles are the defending champions and Keshi, who led Nigeria to win a third Africa Cup of Nations title last month in South Africa, said he has full confidence in the country’s U20 team.
Flying Eagles Coach, John Obuh, told the squad he had a lengthy phone conversation with ‘Big Boss’ who expressed disappointment he would not be in Algeria to watch the team in action as he also has a 2014 World Cup qualifier at home to Kenya about the same time too.
“Keshi sends his goodwill message to the team. He said he believes in what you are capable and challenged you to fly the Nigerian flag high as the Eagles did in South Africa last month,” Obuh announced.
“He said he would have loved to be in Algeria to watch you play but that is not possible because he also has a game against Kenya around the same time.
“He said he will talk to the squad when we are in Algeria to wish us well.”
Meanwhile, the Nigeria Football Federation has expressed total confidence in the Flying Eagles leading up to the 2013 African Youth Championship in Algeria.
The defending AYC kings have thus far played five matches during their training stint in Egypt and Tunisia ahead of the tournament.
They have won one, drawn one and lost two matches.
However, the NFF General Secretary, Musa Amadu, said the Flying Eagles should not be judged on the results of their warm-up matches in Tunisia.
Amadu said: “We must not judge the team by the results posted in friendly matches.
“They may have not been impressive but we are confident that coach John Obuh would do a great job, like he did two years ago in South Africa.
“Don’t forget he has a mix of players from the former team and a set of new boys and needs to blend the team.
“We believe they will peak at the tournament proper and do Nigeria proud.”
Meanwhile, the Flying Eagles goalkeeper, Emmanuel Daniel, is to have an MRI scan to ascertain the gravity of his right knee injury.
The Enugu Rangers goalkeeper has not trained with the rest of the squad since he limped out of Wednesday night’s warm-up game against Esperance U20 in Tunis.
Midfielder Ovbokha Agboyi also picked up an ankle injury in the same game and did not train on Friday morning.
However, he has begun light training and he is expected to soon regain full fitness.
Late addition to the squad, Olanrewaju Kayode, was taken on a special drill at the beach by Assistant Coach Yakubu Maidaji on Thursday and trained fully with the rest of the squad on Friday.
He was sharp in front of goal as the Flying Eagles intensified their preparations for the AYC, which kicks off on March 16.