Local News: Maigari calls for massive support for Flying Eagles

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NFF at a glance
Founded	1945
FIFA Affiliation	Since 1960
President
1st Vice President
2nd Vice President
General Secretary	Bolaji Ojo-Oba
National Jerseys	Green/white

FIFA World Cup appearances
3 (1994, 1998, 2002)

Continental titles
Winner
CAN (1980, 1994)
Runners-Up
CAN (1984, 1988, 1990, 2000)

Best Results
Winner
FIFA U-17 World Cup Final (1985, 1993, 2007), Olympic Football Tournament Final (1996)

Runners-Up
FIFA U-17 World Cup Final (1987, 2001, 2009), FIFA U-20 World Cup Final (1989, 2005), Olympic Football Tournament Final (2008)

Maigari Calls For Massive Support For Flying Eagles

The Nigeria Football Federation has appealed to Nigerians to turn out en masse at the National Stadium, Abuja on Saturday to cheer the national U-20 team,Flying Eagles to victory in their 2011 African Youth Championship qualifying match against Guinea’s U-20 squad.

President of the Federation, Alhaji Aminu Maigari said Wednesday that the boys have prepared hard and well, and only need good support from the stands to overcome their opponents in the crunch game.

“The team has trained very well and I can tell Nigerians that this team is ready for the match. The technical crew has been doing great work. But we are appealing to Nigerians to come to the Stadium in large numbers on Saturday and give the team support.

“I spoke to the players and they said they are ready for the battle, and that all they just want to see people cheering them from the stands. We believe that our people will turn out in their numbers to come and support the team”, said Alhaji Maigari.

The Nigeria U-20 team is made up of the bulk of the U-17 team that reached the final of the FIFA U-17 World Cup competition that Nigeria staged in eight cities in October/November last year.

Head Coach Sam John Obuh has since then led his boys to victories in two different 4-Nation Invitational Tournaments in South Africa and Egypt.

“This is a match we must approach with all seriousness”, began Obuh. “I have had reports on the Guinean team and I know they are good”.

The Nigeria Football Federation sent Assistant Coach Abimbola Samuel to the Guineans’ preliminary round qualification fixture against Togo in Lome and Conakry, and he had this to say: “We have a fixture on our hands. But the important thing is this team has been together and has conquered together, and we know what to do each time there is a challenge. It will be a tough game but we will overcome”.

Guinea edged Togo over two legs to reach this stage, while the Flying Eagles drew a bye.

In 1983, the Flying Eagles defeated Guinea 3-1 on aggregate to qualify for the 1983 FIFA World Youth Championship in Mexico – the first time any Nigerian team would play in a FIFA –organized championship.

Next year’s African Youth Championship will be hosted by Libya while the FIFA U-20 World Cup finals is being staged in Colombia.

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