THE coach of Senegal does not believe that the Flying Eagles are better than his side despite the Young Lions of Teranga's loss to Nigeria on Sunday.
The Nigerian U-20 team defeated ‘Les Lionceaux’ in the final of the African Youth Championship (AYC) two days ago, but Joseph Koto will not accept that the Manu Garba team is superior to his own.
"Our performance showed that Nigeria is not superior to us and I believe we won’t disgrace ourselves at the FIFA U-20 World Cup," Koto said after his team lost 0-1 to the Flying Eagles on Sunday.
He based his argument on the "exceptional" performance of his players, despite their inability to convert any of their chances in the match.
''I’m very satisfied with the performance of my team. They played very well and were exceptional. From the start till the end, our presence was felt. We fluffed a lot of goal scoring opportunities," he said.
Nigeria humbled the Senegalese 3-1 at the group stage and while previewing the rematch, the coach said the game would give him the "opportunity to judge whether they (Flying Eagles) are better than us" and that if the Flying Eagles won again, he would "congratulate them."
Also speaking, captain of the Flying Eagles Musa Mohammed said that he and his mates adhered to the coach's instruction.
"We played a more compact game based on the tactics of the coach since it was a final match," said the defender, who scored four goals - all from the penalty spot - at the championship.
Jonathan congratulates Flying Eagles
PRESIDENT Goodluck Jonathan has congratulated the Flying Eagles of Nigeria on their victory over Senegal in the final of the 2015 African Youth Soccer Championship on Sunday.
According to a statement issued by presidential spokesman, Dr. Reuben Abati in Abuja on Monday, President Jonathan joined other soccer-loving Nigerians in applauding the Flying Eagles’ glorious triumph over their Senegalese opponents who, as tournament hosts, played in the final with the vociferous backing of a partisan home crowd.
He assured the team that all Nigerians are very proud of their magnificent, all-conquering performance in the tournament, which has earned the country a record seventh African Youth Championship success.
The statement said in keeping with his administration’s policy of giving Nigeria’s sportsmen and women the greatest possible support and encouragement, which has resulted in the country’s recent successes in international competitions, President Jonathan promised the Flying Eagles that they will have the full backing of the Federal Government for their participation in the 2015 FIFA U-20 World Cup in New Zealand.
...NFF receives victorious team in Abuja
The General Secretary of the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) Dr. Mohammed Sanusi received members of the victorious Flying Eagles team on their return to Nigeria on Monday.
Sanusi was full of praises for the Flying Eagles at the Nigeria Football Federation House, saying, “I want to welcome you on behalf of the president, Dr Goodluck Jonathan and also to assure you that the NFF is ready to give full support to the team at this summer’s FIFA U-20 World Cup in New Zealand.”
Meanwhile, the Flying Eagles coach Manu Garba, speaking, said: “We are looking beyond the African Youth Championship, this is a team that did not lose any match at the championship. Our plan now is to focus on the World Cup in New Zealand.”
The Flying Eagles won a seventh African Youth Championship crown on Sunday night in Dakar, Senegal, when they pipped hosts Senegal 1-0.
Nigeria was also winner in 1983, 1985, 1987, 1989, 2005 and 2011.
These boys are Nigeria’s future — Garba
Flying Eagles handler, Manu Garba has disclosed that his team is the future of Nigerian football.
A first half wonder strike from Bernard Bulbwa saw the Nigerian U-20 team beat hosts Senegal 1-0 in the 2015 African Youth Championship (AYC) final for a seventh title.
According a delighted Garba, fielding players from academies to win the competition is a good sign of for the growth of the country’s football.
“I feel elated and great. I was part of the team that won the same competition in 1983 as a player and I’m happy to win it as a coach,” Manu said in a post match conference.
“The difference is the goal of the tournament which was scored by number 7, Bernard Bulbwa.
“This team is the future of Nigerian football. We have only two players from the Nigeria Premier League with the rest from academies, which is a good sign for the development of Nigerian football,” he said.
Nigeria will face Brazil, Hungary and Korea DPR in group E of the 2015 World Youth Championship in New Zealand.
Mark praises Flying Eagles
Senate President David Mark on Monday praised the Flying Eagles of Nigeria over their victory i the final of the 2015 African Youth Championships held in Senegal on Sunday.
Mark said that superlative performance of the lads at the tournament has further “confirmed Nigeria as the leading soccer house in Africa.’’
Senator Mark said: ‘‘This victory, coming at this critical moment of the 2015 general election, is a reassurance that the forthcoming elections would be successful. The team spirit displayed by our boys at the championship is an attribute all NIGERIANS must emulate.’’
“Together, we can address our challenges if we resolve to work as one people with a common purpose.”
He noted that the victorious Flying Eagles team deserves “our commendation and rewards. They are our heroes. They have rekindled our hope and pride,” adding that the Federal Government needed to reward the players to serve as an elixir for future laurels for the nation.
We played to instructions —Match hero, Bulbwa
The hero of the 2015 African Youth Championship, Bernard Bulbwa, who scored Nigeria’s goal in final against Senegal, has said that the Flying Eagles played according to instructions and were selfless in their roles on the field.
It took just 17 minutes from kickoff for the midfielder of Shuttle Sports Academy in Nigeria to break the stalemate and put his side ahead 1-0.
His long-range effort was another breathtaking goal of the tournament, although Senegal coach Joseph Koto believes Bulbwa was only lucky to find the back net.
“He wasn’t that close. He attempted something and it entered. He was only just lucky and we weren’t,” Koto had said in his post-match press conference.
However, Bulbwa refutes such assumption, insisting he worked hard for the winner that handed Nigeria their seventh record title in the competition.
“I had space around me after outpacing my marker. I saw the posts and I shot and it floated past the rooftop and that was a goal. You don’t get such a goal by luck. It is hard work and faith in what you are doing,” Bulbwa told superport.com.
The early goal made it look as though the six-time champions would have an easy ride over the hosts, but Nigeria were pressed at different intervals by Senegal, who were desperate for a leveller.
“We were not panicking when they held domination. We kept closing potholes and trying to keep them at bay. And you could have noticed that they were always pushing and retreating because they failed to find a breach.’’
We never lost hope — Ojo
Flying Eagles goalkeeper, Olorunleke Ojo has said his side never entertained any fear of defeat in the course of the just-ended African Youth Championship final clash against hosts, Senegal.
The Nigerians pipped the Young Lions of Teranga 1-0 in the final of the AYC clash on Sunday at the Leopold Sedar Senghor Stadium, Dakar to claim a record seventh African title.
Ojo said the encounter though somehow tough er than they envisaged, they were determined to hang onto their hard earned lead till the end of the keenly contested clash.
“We believed in ourselves that we’ll win the clash against Senegal even at the toughest part of the game.
“We knew right from start that Senegal won’t be same as the ones we defeated 3-1 in the group’s first game.
“And it turned out exactly the way we predicted it as the Senegalese side we confronted in the final were truly difficult.
“We went into the final clash with a mindset that we never met the side previously and it helped us immensely.
“However, we told ourselves that once we take the lead in the clash and unable to score more we’ll defend it with our blood if need be and that was exactly what we did.
“Senegal really improved from the side we played in the group stage and I can say outright that they’re the toughest opponents we encountered at the championship not even Ghana.
