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Nigeria’s
U-20 male national team, the Flying Eagles have been drawn in a very
tough group comprising defending champions, Ghana and perennial foes,
Cameroon. The fourth team in the group of death is Gambia. The other
group is made up of hosts, Libya, Mali, Egypt and Lesotho.

The Nigerian team
will open her campaign against the defending champions, Ghana on March
19 and will face the Cameroonians three days after.

The Flying Eagles
captain had prayed that Nigeria will not be grouped with Ghana but his
wish did not come true. Fortune Chukwudi spoke on the eve of the draws.
“We are not scared of any team but it is only wise to play the
strongest teams in the latter stages of the competition,” Chukwudi told
SuperSport.com.

“Those countries
have a good track record in this competition so all the teams will be
looking to avoid them. If we meet them, fine but it is better to play
them later on in the competition.

“I also think the
other sides will be strong. It is not easy to qualify for this
competition so any side that makes it to this stage should be treated
with respect.” But his coach, John Obuh remained upbeat after the draws.

Obuh told
mtnfootball.com that: “I’m used to being drawn in the ‘Group of Death’,
but as far as my team is concerned this is the group of life.

“I wouldn’t want to
believe that there is one or two teams who would be our biggest threat
because we will play all three teams with the same determination and
focus. Our first game will be against Ghana and we know it won’t be
easy and that is where we have set to work immediately. Our immediate
target is to reach the last four.”

Ghana will be formidable

The first of the
Flying Eagles’ opponents in Libya, Ghana’s Black Satellites’ coach
Orlando Wellington told the BBC that his team is determined to hold on
to both the African and world crowns. “It’s very important for us,” he
said before the draws in Libya on Tuesday.

“It’s a big
challenge for me and the players – we have to work very hard to go to
the World Cup. It’s not easy but financially and physically we are
prepared.” The Ghanaian coach also believes that the 2011 set of Black
Satellites is better than the 2009 winning set. “When you talk about
technique this team is far ahead of the past champions,” he said on the
BBC programme, Fast Track.

“These people are
tactically and technically (more) sound than the other team. The others
play more aggressively but this team can play very good football.”
Nigeria’s team coached by silver winning U-17 coach, John Obuh will
resume camping in Abuja with 35 players on January 8. Nigeria came
third at the last championship in Rwanda.

There will be four
African representatives in Colombia so the group winners and runners-up
will progress to the semi-finals – and a place at the World Cup in
July. The tournament in Libya will kick off on March 18 and end on
April 1 in Tripoli and Benghazi, Libya at the Industrial River and Hugo
Chavez stadiums respectively.