Nigeria Under-20 coach, John Obuh, has said he was unfazed by the fact that his team has been drawn in what is widely regarded as a ‘Group of Death’ at the 2011 Africa Youth Championship in Libya.

Nigeria have been pitched in Group of the AYC along with defending champions Ghana, Cameroon and The Gambia and open their campaign against perennial rivals Ghana on March 19.

“I’m used to be drawn in ‘Group of Death’, but as far as my team are concerned this is the group of life,” Obuh told MTNFootball.com.
“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 will 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 are the defending world champions after they made history by becoming the first_ever African side to win the tournament in Cairo, Egypt, two years ago.

Nigeria have won the competition a record five times, Ghana are three_time winners and Egypt have won it twice.
Obuh further told MTNFootball.com that the team will begin residential training on January 8 in Abuja with a set of 35 new players.
Host nation Libya head a relatively easier Group A that has Mali, Egypt and Lesotho.

Libya are making their debut in the tournament, while Lesotho and The Gambia are appearing for the second time.
The competition is for players under 20 years and the semi_finalists will represent Africa at the FIFA Under_20 World Cup in Colombia later in the year.