Nigeria U-20 team will on Sunday in Ilorin battle their South African counterparts for a ticket to the 2013 African Youth Championship.

Both teams played out a 1-1 draw in the first leg a fortnight ago in Nelspruit.

Reigning African champions Flying Eagles will be the favourites to qualify for next year’s AYC in Algeria as they already have an away goal in the bag and will be playing in front of their fans at the Kwara State Stadium from 2pm local time on Sunday.

However, experienced coach John Obuh has insisted they are not leaving anything to chance in their quest to advance to Algeria 2013.

“South Africa have an excellent team and they gave us a good fight in the first game. They would have been disappointed with the result from that game, but still we cannot take anything for granted because we want to qualify for the AYC again,” said Obuh.

“We have prepared very well for this game and we believe our hard work will be rewarded on match day.”

Obuh has picked Europe-based pros Kenneth Omeruo and Aliyu Mohammed Goyi to fortify his defence with Sunshine Stars striker Harrison Egbune the only other addition to the squad from the first meeting in South Africa.

Enugu Rangers striker Alhaji Gero is the team’s leading scorer in the qualifiers with three goals thus far.

However, the big centre-forward was shut out by big Amajita central defender Ishmael Mngonyama, who was booked in the process.

The South Africa U-20 side arrived Ilorin on Friday morning with five changes from the squad last month.

The exciting midfielder Keagan Dolly is out of this clash after his club Ajax Cape Town refused to release him, but his direct replacement will be another mercurial Supersport United player Snethemba Ngidi, who missed the first game.

The petite Ngidi loves to be in the thick of the action and he makes up for his lack of inches with his speed and quick thinking.

Pretoria University FC goalkeeper Lebo Ngubeni is expected to keep his place after a five-star showing to stop Nigeria from winning the first leg.

South Africa will again be banking on goal scorer in Nelspruit, Platinum Stars’ striker, Thabani Mthembu to deliver. He is the team’s leading scorer and forms a great partnership with Percy Tau.

Amajita young coach Solly Luvhengo has promised to upset the home team to reach the eight-nation tournament proper next March.

“We hope for an upset,” Luvhengo said on arrival in the north-central Nigerian city of Ilorin.

“It was a tough game in South Africa and it will be even tougher with Nigeria playing at home now.

“Nigeria are a very good team. Normally, Nigeria bring big, slow and sluggish players to this level of the game, but not this time when they have very good and quick players.

“They will also be playing at home and that should also be an advantage for them.”

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free2ryhme:


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ortopazz: Sure winning, match never start, who d watch am?

ortopazz: Sure winning, match never start, who d watch am?

sambos994: Link to see it online anyone?

pappyshun: Alhaji Gero gets the 3rd goal assist from Ajagun 52mins....Naija 3 Amajita 1!

pappyshun: Alhaji Gero gets the 3rd goal assist from Ajagun 52mins....Naija 3 Amajita 1!

Syenite:

Wake up man, this is Africa.

flexyonline: Is that the same Ajagun who played Shell cup in 2002 as a mercenary? Naija na wa!

Nigeria U20s on Sunday qualified for next year’s AYC after they defeated South Africa 3-1 to advance 4-2 on aggregate.

Flying Eagles coach John Obuh commended the resilience of the South Africans.

“They are a very good team and they kept us on our toes from start to finish,” said Obuh.

“Kudos to the entire team for putting in their best to ensure we will be in Algeria to now defend our crown.”

The Flying Eagles took the game from the first blast of the whistle but it was not until the 38th minute when MVP Abduljaleel Ajagun turned smartly inside the six-yard box before firing past goalkeeper Lebo Ngubeni.

But almost immediately the Amajita drew level on the back of a quick counter attack as the Nigerians seem to still be celebrating their opening goal.

And again it was danger man Thabani Mthembu who scored for South Africa, just as he had done two weeks ago in Nelspruit.

“It was a mistake on our part as we over celebrated our goal and we got punished for it,” lamented Obuh after this exciting clash between two good sides.

The game was then delicately balanced at 1-1 before Ajagun delivered the best goal of the day on 45 minutes when he blasted home into the roof of the net to the relief of the big crowd at the Kwara State Stadium.

Enugu Rangers striker Alhaji Gero further settled the nerves of the home crowd when he slipped home a stylish through ball by the outstanding Ajagun. It was his fourth goal of the campaign.

However, to the credit of the visiting South Africa they did not give up the fight as they now opened up and took the game to their hosts.

Goalkeeper and skipper Samuel Okani was at his best as he kept out a goal-bound shot in the 74th minute and in stoppage time, Okani tipped another effort for a corner as Amajita continued to press for another goal.

And when the Ghanaian referee blew the final whistle, players, officials and fans erupted into a wild celebration.

Flying Eagles vs South Africa

Samuel Okani (skipper) – Mohammed Aliyu, Kenneth Omeruo (Shehu Abdullahi 46), Ikechukwu Okorie, Chizoba Amaefule – Moses Orkuma, Abduljaleel Ajagun, Chidi Osuchukwu - Bright Ejike (Yahaya Adamu 64), Alhaji Gero (Uche Agbo 75), Umar Aminu

Unused Subs: Jonah Usman, Halilu Obadaki, Agboyi Ovboka, Harrison Egbune

Coach: John Obuh

Booking: Alhaji Gero 53.