By JACOB AJOM

Having a second chance to make amends against a particular team in a single tournament does not come too often in soccer. As Nigeria and her eastern neighbour, Cameroon engage each other in the grand finale of the 2011 Orange African Youth Championships in Johannesburg, South Africa Coach John Obuh knows the task ahead of him won’t be easy. It could not have been more challenging for the Flying Eagles as Cameroon enjoys a historical advantage over them.

Instructively, Cameroon defeated the Eagles in the second Group B match of this tournament, and  that went a long way in defining the final standing in the group.

Reports from the Nigerian camp speak of the players’ resolve to turn back the Cameroonians with a shocking defeat to avenge their embarrassing loss earlier.

John Obuh“Coach John Obuh promised to plug all loopholes noticed in their previous matches and give the Cubs a run for their money,” Dr Rafiu Ladipo, President General of the Nigeria Football Supporters Club told us on phone from Johannesburg.

Continuing, Ladipo said, “the boys assured Nigerians this morning (yesterday) that nothing short of the trophy would be good enough for them. They were all in high spirit and raring to go.”

John Obuh

In 1995 Cameroon defeated the Flying Eagles 2-1 after extra time. Nigeria managed a 2-1 defeat of the dreaded Cubs in 1999. In 2007 and 2009 the Cubs roared back and recorded two consecutive victories 2-0 on both occasions. Last week’s defeat of the Flying Eagles was one too many, and Obuh and his team have vowed to put a stop to the one-sided record.

Obuh’s team which has been improving with every match will bank on the very dependable  Nwofor Uche, Eagles’ leading scorer, captain Ramon Azeez, Emvoh Terry, goalkeeper Paul Danjuma Dami, Stanley Okoro whose performance is expected to peak against the junior Lions among others.

The Cameroon team is not a free-scoring side but their robust play that hinges more on their physicality than technique has seen them come this far. The other advantage they want to capitalise on is their superior psychological state. Having downed the Eagles earlier, the Cubs believe they can do it again.