EGYPT 2023: Garba offers Flying Eagles tips for U-20 AFCON glory

Foremost youth development coach, Manu Garba who last led the Flying Eagles to win Nigeria’s third U-20 AFCON title in 2015 when the tournament was then known as the African U-20 Championship, said the country can reclaim her glory as the number one footballing nation in Africa at this level after winning a total of seven record titles right from the inception of biennial event with four consecutive wins between 1981 and 1989, writes MORAKINYO ABODUNRIN.

ONE of Nigeria’s most successful coaches at international youth level, Manu Garba , believed the Flying Eagles have the ammo to hurt the young Teranga Lions when both meet tomorrow in one of the opening matches at the U-20 Africa Cup of Nations.

Garba who last led the Flying Eagles to win Nigeria’s third the U-20 AFCON title in 2015 when the tournament was then known as the African U-20 Championship, said the country can reclaim her glory as the number one country on the continent at this level after winning a total of seven record titles right from the biennial event was known as African U-21 Cup of Nations with four successive wins between 1981 and 1989.

Besides Garba’s 2015 win in Senegal, the Flying Eagles were also African champions in 2005 in Benin under Samson Siasia as well as 2011 in South Africa under coach John Obuh.  

Holding this term in Egypt between 19 February and 11 March, Nigeria is drawn in what on paper is a tough preliminary section that housed the hosts Egypt, West African football powerhouse Senegal and Mozambique in Group B of the biennial continental competition which doubles as the qualifying tournament for the forthcoming FIFA U-20 Championship to be held in Indonesia in June.

 “It’s true that I last won the U-20 Africa Cup of Nations for Nigeria in Senegal in 2015,” Garba ,the former Nigeria international who led El Kanemi Warriors of Maiduguri to two Challenge Cup glories, exclusively told NationSport

 “Why it has been difficult for us to win again is the constant change in coaches and lack of progression of the U-17 team to U-20 and the quality of the league have gone down because of bad officiating some years back.

“Importantly, some years back match-winning bonuses were paid as at when due but the AFCON U20 Senegal 2015 winning team is yet to be hosted by the Federal Government.

“We haven’t even drink pure water after winning the AFCON U20 Senegal 2015 team but remember what super Eagles team got when they won the AFCON tournament in 2013.”

Incidentally in 2015, the Garba-led Flying Eagles opened their account with a 3-1 flourish against Senegal and repeated same with a 1-0 win in the Final Match to cart away the U-20 AFCON trophy and tomorrow’s encounter would certainly be a repeat as coach Ladan Bosso stir his own fledglings towards another success.

Yet Garba was unequivocal about where the pendulum would swing when the two West African sides battle for points at the Cairo international Stadium. 

“Of course, Senegal have a good team because most of the players graduated from their U-17 but I can see Nigeria beating Senegal because the level of our preparation was adequately good,” noted the vastly experienced 57-year-old coach who wrought Nigeria’s fourth FIFA U-17 World Cup title in 2013 in the UAE. “Senegal Play cohesively and their attack is good but Nigeria is stronger in terms of physical fitness, tactical and mental fitness which are key to success coupled with the fact that the NFF have promised to motivate them psychologically by paying their allowance; and I also think representing a great country like Nigeria would be an added motivation for our players.

Garba was also committal as he analysed the much dreaded Group B that house Egypt, Senegal, Mozambique and Nigeria even as he offered tips to the Flying Eagles: “In a tournament like this, the key to success is for the team to play with determination, commitment, concentration and composure and importantly take every game as if it is the final match.

“Also they have to try as much as they can not to drop any point in the first match as a win will generally motivate the team in subsequent matches.”

Garba in the meantime, has lauded Bosso for picking a strong cat of players to fly the country’s flag in Egypt, adding the vast experience of the former Gombe United coach would come in handy for the Flying eagles in their quest to conquer the continent.

Garba quipped: “Coach Ladan Bosso is an experienced gaffer and an optimist and have the backing of his assistants; and I will only pray for Nigeria to win our matches and qualify for the FIFA U20 World Cup slated for Indonesia which is the ultimate.