Flying Eagles coach Manu Garba

Nigeria’s U-20 men’s national team, the Flying Eagles, will attempt to qualify for their sixth consecutive FIFA U-20 World Cup, when they play Congo at the Leopold Sedar Senghor Stadium in Dakar in the ongoing African Youth Championship, on Wednesday (today).

The 2015 U-20 World Cup is scheduled for New Zealand later in the year.

The Flying Eagles on Sunday defeated hosts Senegal 3-1 to move to the top of Group A with three points while the Congolese are third behind them with a point having played a 1-1 draw with Ivory Coast in their first match.

Nigeria have qualified for the World Cup 10 times and will seek to make it 11 on Wednesday with a win guaranteeing them a place in New Zealand.

The six-time African champions were at the 1983, 1985, 1987, 1989, 1999, 2005, 2007, 2009, 2011, 2013 editions with a second place finish in 2005 being their greatest achievement at the tournament.

But the Congolese, who hosted the AYC in 2007, defeated Nigeria 1-0 in the final, their first ever continental triumph at that stage.

Coach Manu Garba will be counting on the form of Taiwo Awoniyi, who struck twice in the 3-1 defeat of Senegal to beat the Congolese while their less-fancied opponents would bank on their five internationals led by striker Kader Georges Bidimbou and Hardy Binguila.

However, assistant coach Nduka Ugbade said Nigeria will not take Congo for granted.

“They have a very organised defence and they are a very physical side, we will be mindful of them,” Ugbade said.

Congo coach Paolo Berrettini said he has been impressed with the Nigerian team, but hopes his team will improve on their first-half showing against Cote d’Ivoire at the weekend.

“We watched Nigeria against Senegal, they are a very good team but we will take them on with confidence,” said the Italian coach.

“We hope to improve on our first-half performance, which was not good against Cote d’Ivoire and almost cost us the game.”

-Punch