Can Flying Eagles make it double

The battle for the 12^th edition of the African Youth Championship, AYC began in Algeria, two months after the African Cup of Nations, AFCON in South Africa. Who will be crowned the winner, can the Flying Eagles follow the footsteps of the Super Eagles?

Coach John Obuh

On March 16, 2013, 16 teams began the battle for the 12^th edition of the African Youth Championship, AYC in Algeria with eight first rounds of matches.

Out of the 16 teams, apart from the one that will emerge the eventual winner, the four semi-finalists will automatically qualify for the FIFA World Cup in Turkey.

However, expectations are high as the world will be looking up to the John Obuh-side to repeat the feat by their senior counterparts, the Super Eagles who recently conquered the continent, and won the African Cup of Nations, AFCON in South Africa, after 19 years.

The other fifteen teams will want to do everything possible to wrestle the crown currently in the hands of the Flying Eagles of Nigeria, which the Obuh-side won two years ago in South Africa after beating Cameroon.

Meanwhile, the 12^th edition of the Orange CAF U-20 African Championship will pit regulars against some debutant sides at this competition.

Ghana, three-time winners (1993, 1999 and 2009), will be making her ninth appearance. The West African team remains the only side in the continent to have won the FIFA U-20 World Cup in 2009, shortly after conquering Africa.

Egypt, on the other hand won the maiden edition in 1991 and then again in 2003 and will also be making her ninth appearance at the 2013 finals.

Defending champions Nigeria have won the championship twice; 2005 and 2011 and will be making her eighth appearances. The first was won by Samson Siasia while the second trophy was won by John Obuh.

Mali, three-time semi-finalists (1995, 2003 and 2011) will be in Algeria after ousting Zambia. After a 2-2 draw away in Kitwe, the Malians triumphed 3-0 at home in Bamako, to scale through on a 5-2 aggregate.

On the other hand, Gabon is making her second appearance at the finals after 2005 finals during which they finished fifth. Gabon U-20 side will be keen to emulate their U-23 team that won the inaugural U-23 African Championship last December (2011) and went on to make a maiden participation at the Olympic Games.

Benin Republic made the semi-finals in 2005 and the side is back at the finals after dispatching Ivory Coast and Senegal on the way. The team could pose as a tough challenger in Algeria.

Meanwhile, DR Congo is the only country that will be making her debut at the finals after claiming the scalp of last edition’s finalists Cameroon in a thrilling two leg final round qualification contest. 

DR Congo had to overcome a 2-0 deficit from the first leg played in Cameroon.  The Congolese netted twice in the first half, scored the third after the break before Cameroon scored in the 73 minute.  Congolese’s Pierre Botayi Bamato then scored in the 77^th minute again to give the team to watch out for in the tournament her first ever U-20 African Championship final.

The 2013 Orange CAF U20 Championship finalists are Benin, Egypt, Gabon, Ghana, Mali, Nigeria, DR Congo and Algeria, the host country. The biannual tournament will take place between March 16 to 30 in Algeria.

Meanwhile, Flying Eagles coach, who incidentally led the team to a triumph in South Africa two years ago, John Obuh, has picked a final list of 21 players to fly the country’s flag at the 2013 African Youth Championship.

The Flying Eagles in a training session

The team comprises of three goalkeepers, seven defenders, six midfielders and five strikers. Top of the list is skipper Abduljeleel Ajagun, who was part of the squad that lifted the trophy in South Africa on May 1, 2011. Also in the team is also FIFA U-17 World Cup silver medalists, Mohammed Goyi Aliyu, Aigbe Oliha, Edafe Egbedi and Olanrewaju Kayode.

The full list has Goalkeepers: Samuel Okani (Enyimba); Jonah Usman (ABS FC); Emmanuel Daniel (Rangers); Defenders: Aigbe Oliha (Esperance Sportive de Zarzis); Goyi Aliyu (Nigeria); Abdullahi Shehu (Kano Pillars); Chizoba Amaefule (Dolphins); Ikechukwu Okorie (Enyimba); Kingsley Madu (El-Kanemi Warriors); Abubakar Hassan (Wikki Tourists); Midfielders: Aminu Umar (Wikki Tourists); Abduljeleel Ajagun (Dolphins); Ovbokha Agboyi (Bayelsa United); Chidi Osuchukwu (Dolphins); Uche Agbo (Enyimba); Moses Orkuma (Lobi Stars) Strikers: Bright Ejike (Heartland); Olanrewaju Kayode (Ansfed Utd, Turkey); Abdullahi Gero     (Rangers); Christian Pyagbara (Sharks) and Edafe Egbedi (AGF-Aarhus, Denmark).

Nigeria is in Group B with Mali, Gabon and Democratic Republic of Congo. Host country, Algeria, Benin Republic, Ghana and Egypt are in Group A.

Who will win the 2013 African Youth Championship, AYC? Only time will tell.