Opening 3 Points Vital for Flying Eagles, Says Manu

First half brace by Taiwo Awoniyi and Ifeanyi Matthew’s brilliant strike gave Nigeria a 3-1 win, either side of Sidy Sarr’s consolation for the African Under-20 Championship hosts, Senegal, at the Stade Leopold Sedar Senghor, Dakar.

The win moved the Flying Eagles top of Group A as the other Match Day 1 encounter involving Cote d’Ivoire and Congo ended a goal apiece.

Nigeria’s Flying eagles are Hoping to Go All the Way in the 2015 AYC.

“The result of any opening game is very crucial in a tournament like this and we are grateful to God we won,” Manu said after the win over Senegal.


Record six-time winners Nigeria face Congo in their penultimate game on Wednesday. The best two teams from either pools qualifies for the semi-finals of the tournament, as well as secure a place in the group stages of this year’s World Cup finals, slated for May 30 through June 20.

“It’s our first three points of a very important competition,” Manu quipped. “We have now taken a foot towards qualifying for the World Cup.

“We did not know a lot about Senegal before the match, but the boys did a good job. BU we have also put this game behind us and our focus is on our next game on Wednesday (against Congo).”

He added: “Our greatest aim is to qualify for the FIFA U-20 World Cup and more importantly as African champions.”