Nigeria’s Under-20 team at the African Youth Championship in Dakar, Senegal are aiming to maintain their 100% record, as they meet Cote’d Ivoire’s Junior Elephants in the semi-finals this evening.

•Flying Eagles… Ready to fly

The Flying Eagles have won all their games so far in the tournament, the last being the 4-1 thrashing of Congo despite playing with ten men from the 26th minute. But against Cote’d Ivoire it will be a test of the Flying Eagles intention to win the trophy. Coach Manu Garba stated that his wards are dreaming of going to the World Cup as African champions.

Both teams are no strangers to each other. They have in their squads most of the players from their respective under-17 teams that played in the final of the African U-17 championship in 2013 in Egypt. Cote’ d Ivoire beat Nigeria 1-0 in the group stages and also in the final where they won on penalties. However the Nigerian team where worthy champions of the 2013 FIFA Under-17 World Cup.

“Our target is to win all the matches and that means winning the trophy as well. The first part of the job has been with qualification for the World Cup. Now, the other target is to go to the World Cup as African champions,” Garba stated.

Before this match, Cote’d Ivoire struggled in their game against Senegal and Congo whom they played a 2-2 and 1-1 draws respectively. Nigeria on the other hand beat the hosts 3-1 and Congo 4-1.

Former coach of the Flying Eagles, Tunde Disu backed the team to keep their scoring record running.

“Yes, they’ve qualified for the semifinals with the two victories against hosts, Senegal and Congo Brazzaville as well as the Fifa Under-20 World Cup in New Zealand but they’ve their pride and record to maintain by making it 100% marks at the group stage of the competition.”