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Nigeria will be at the 2013 Africa Youth Championship in Algeria to defend the crown won two years ago in South Africa, Flying Eagles Coach, John Obuh, has promised.

Coach Obuh’s renewed optimism that Nigeria will book a ticket for next year’s AYC in Algeria is coming after the Flying Eagles got a 1-1 draw in the match against South Africa in Nelspruit last Friday.

The Flying Eagles are the defending African champions, having won the 2011 competition in South Africa. They maintained an unbeaten record in the qualifying tournament for the 2013 edition after they fought back from a goal down to tie with a good and spirited Amajita of South Africa.

The return leg will be played on Sunday, October 7, in Ilorin with the overall winner advancing to the eight-nation AYC in Algeria in March.
“It won’t be an easy game in Ilorin against a good and fast South African team, but we will qualify,” Obuh declared.

“I’m okay with the draw in South Africa as well as the overall performance of the team. We gave away the ball rather easily at the beginning, but we later settled down and took the game to them,” he added.

Nigeria, six-time African champions, are confident they will beat their South African counterparts in Ilorin, but Obuh warned that playing in front of the home fans would not count for much against a good team.

“These days there isn’t such a thing as home advantage because a good team can play anywhere and win,” Coach Obuh said. “Football has changed and so we can’t relax to ensure we finish off the job in Ilorin.”