Obuh picks Ajagun, 20 others to defend AYC trophy

Nigeria has picked a final list of 21 players to fly the country’s
flag at the 2013 African Youth Championship holding in Algeria between
16th – 30th March, 2013. The Flying Eagles are the defending
champions.


On Wednesday, Head Coach Sam John Obuh, who also led the team to
triumph in South Africa two years ago, picked three goalkeepers, seven
defenders, six midfielders and five strikers as the team intensified
its final preparations in Tunis.


At the top of the list is Skipper Abduljeleel Ajagun, who was part of
the squad that lifted the trophy in South Africa on May 1, 2011. There
are also FIFA U-17 World Cup silver medallists Mohammed Goyi Aliyu,
Aigbe Oliha, Edafe Egbedi and Olanrewaju Kayode.

Nigeria play Mali, Gabon and Democratic Republic of Congo, in that
order, in Group B of the 12th African Youth Championship. Host
Algeria, Benin Republic, Ghana and Egypt clash in Group A.

The Flying Eagles will play all their group phase games in Oran, with
their first match against Mali’s Junior Eagles coming up on March 17
and the clash with Gabon on March 20. Three days later, they trade
tackles with the Democratic Republic of Congo, who eliminated
Cameroon’s Lionceux to reach their first African Youth Championship
finals.

THE FINAL LIST

Goalkeepers: Samuel Okani (Enyimba FC); Jonah Usman (ABS FC); Emmanuel
Daniel (Rangers FC)

Defenders: Aigbe Oliha (Esperance Sportive de Zarzis); Goyi Aliyu
(Nigeria); Abdullahi Shehu (Kano Pillars); Chizoba Amaefule (Dolphins
FC); Ikechukwu Okorie (Enyimba FC); Kingsley Madu (El-Kanemi
Warriors); Abubakar Hassan (Wikki Tourists FC)

Midfielders: Aminu Umar (Wikki Tourists FC); Abduljeleel Ajagun
(Dolphins FC); Ovbokha Agboyi (Bayelsa United); Chidi Osuchukwu
(Dolphins FC); Uche Agbo (Enyimba FC); Moses Orkuma (Lobi Stars)

Forwards: Bright Ejike (Heartland FC); Olanrewaju Kayode (Ansfed Utd,
Turkey); Abdullahi Gero (Rangers FC); Christian Pyagbara (Sharks FC);
Edafe Egbedi (AGF-Aarhus, Denmark)