Stanley Okoro (L) and Bitolo Oyongo (R)
Bogey team Cameroon stand between Nigeria’s Flying Eagles and a sixth African Youth Championship crown on Sunday in the heart of Soweto.
Cameroon denied their Nigerian counterparts a place in the final of the 2009 edition of the competition courtesy of a 2-0 win.
It was an encore when both teams clashed in the group stage of the 2007 championship in Congo Brazzaville.
The Cameroonians were equally triumphant at the 1995 tournament hosted by Nigeria, winning 2-1 in the semi-final.
Cameroon denied their Nigerian counterparts a place in the final of the 2009 edition of the competition courtesy of a 2-0 win.
It was an encore when both teams clashed in the group stage of the 2007 championship in Congo Brazzaville.
The Cameroonians were equally triumphant at the 1995 tournament hosted by Nigeria, winning 2-1 in the semi-final.
But while Nigeria have won the AYC a record five times, Cameroon have only emerged champions once in 1995. They have also been beaten twice in the final, in 2009 and 1993.
The Nigeria U20s are also fired up to avenge a 1-0 loss they suffered at the hands of the Young Indomitable Lions in the group stage of this tournament.
And for coach John Sam Obuh, this is his second major final after he guided the Golden Eaglets to the final of the FIFA Under-17 World Cup two years ago and came away without the top prize.
Nine players from that Under-17 team are in South Africa aiming to go into the record books as the best on the continent at Under-20 level.
“We got to the final of the Under-17 World Cup two years ago, but in Sunday’s final against Cameroon our target is to win the championship,” declared Obuh after his team saw off the challenge of Mali in the AYC semi-final.
“Cameroon are widely regarded as having a jinx over us. They have beaten us in the past, but we have also beaten them. So, we have to remain very positive because we want to win the game on Sunday to be champions of Africa again.”
Flying Eagles skipper Ramon Azeez has picked Cameroon as the most impressive at the 2011 AYC and he is also delighted that the final will afford his team a chance to win the war after losing the battle.
“Cameroon have proved how good they are so far but we want to avenge our defeat to them in one the group matches and I’m confident we will do just that,” said the gifted midfielder.
Cameroon coach Martin Mpile said he expects to see two different teams from the ones who did battle in the group phase of the tournament.
“We will see a different Nigeria, a different Cameroon in the final. But we want to win the game as we did in the group game,” said Mpile.
Cameroon have been the more convincing in the run-up to the championship game after they stopped both The Gambia (1-0) and Nigeria (1-0) in their first two games before they forced Ghana to a 1-1 draw at the death.
They were stretched in Thursday’s semi-final against Group A runners-up Egypt, before they went through 4-2 on penalties after both teams failed to find the back of the net even after 30 minutes of extra time.
Nigeria got off to a dream start by dumping defending champions Ghana 2-1, only to stumble to Cameroon in their next game.
However, they booked their place in last four of the AYC with a solid 2-0 win over The Gambia, and followed it up with another 2-0 victory over Group A winners Mali in the semi-final.
Cameroon skipper and goalkeeper Jean Efala has looked safe, as has left back Ambroise Oyongo, while forwards Constant Salli and Franck Ohandza have spearheaded their team’s attack.
For Nigeria, defensive midfielder Philemon Daniel has continued to work his lungs out, striker Uche Nwofor has netted three goals and goalkeeper Danjuma Paul has matured in leaps and bounds in South Africa.
However, star attraction Ahmed Musa will not be available for this rematch after he was blocked by his relegation-threatened Dutch club VVV Venlo, who have also disclosed the player is suffering from a dead leg.
Coach Obuh said he remains upbeat his Flying Eagles will soar higher even without the jet-heeled Musa on Sunday.
“In Nigeria, we have a lot of Ahmed Musas and once he is not available, other players will assume his responsibilities. If you were to remove the bulk of my team, in the next couple of days we would be able to present another good team of players,” said the 51-year-old Flying Eagles handler.
The Nigeria U20s are also fired up to avenge a 1-0 loss they suffered at the hands of the Young Indomitable Lions in the group stage of this tournament.
And for coach John Sam Obuh, this is his second major final after he guided the Golden Eaglets to the final of the FIFA Under-17 World Cup two years ago and came away without the top prize.
Nine players from that Under-17 team are in South Africa aiming to go into the record books as the best on the continent at Under-20 level.
“We got to the final of the Under-17 World Cup two years ago, but in Sunday’s final against Cameroon our target is to win the championship,” declared Obuh after his team saw off the challenge of Mali in the AYC semi-final.
“Cameroon are widely regarded as having a jinx over us. They have beaten us in the past, but we have also beaten them. So, we have to remain very positive because we want to win the game on Sunday to be champions of Africa again.”
Flying Eagles skipper Ramon Azeez has picked Cameroon as the most impressive at the 2011 AYC and he is also delighted that the final will afford his team a chance to win the war after losing the battle.
“Cameroon have proved how good they are so far but we want to avenge our defeat to them in one the group matches and I’m confident we will do just that,” said the gifted midfielder.
Cameroon coach Martin Mpile said he expects to see two different teams from the ones who did battle in the group phase of the tournament.
“We will see a different Nigeria, a different Cameroon in the final. But we want to win the game as we did in the group game,” said Mpile.
Cameroon have been the more convincing in the run-up to the championship game after they stopped both The Gambia (1-0) and Nigeria (1-0) in their first two games before they forced Ghana to a 1-1 draw at the death.
They were stretched in Thursday’s semi-final against Group A runners-up Egypt, before they went through 4-2 on penalties after both teams failed to find the back of the net even after 30 minutes of extra time.
Nigeria got off to a dream start by dumping defending champions Ghana 2-1, only to stumble to Cameroon in their next game.
However, they booked their place in last four of the AYC with a solid 2-0 win over The Gambia, and followed it up with another 2-0 victory over Group A winners Mali in the semi-final.
Cameroon skipper and goalkeeper Jean Efala has looked safe, as has left back Ambroise Oyongo, while forwards Constant Salli and Franck Ohandza have spearheaded their team’s attack.
For Nigeria, defensive midfielder Philemon Daniel has continued to work his lungs out, striker Uche Nwofor has netted three goals and goalkeeper Danjuma Paul has matured in leaps and bounds in South Africa.
However, star attraction Ahmed Musa will not be available for this rematch after he was blocked by his relegation-threatened Dutch club VVV Venlo, who have also disclosed the player is suffering from a dead leg.
Coach Obuh said he remains upbeat his Flying Eagles will soar higher even without the jet-heeled Musa on Sunday.
“In Nigeria, we have a lot of Ahmed Musas and once he is not available, other players will assume his responsibilities. If you were to remove the bulk of my team, in the next couple of days we would be able to present another good team of players,” said the 51-year-old Flying Eagles handler.
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