2015 AYC FINAL: REPEAT OR REVENGE? Senegal stand in the way of high-flying Eagles

The Flying Eagles of Nigeria are set to win a seventh African Youth Championship crown at the expense of hosts Senegal on Sunday.

Kick-off time at the 45,000-capacity Leopold Sedar Senghor Stadium in Dakar is 7.30pm local time or 8.30pm Nigerian time.


 Sunday’s match will by the ninth time Nigeria will feature in the final of the AYC, while host country Senegal will be playing their first-ever final.

This game will be a rematch of the opening game of this competition which Nigeria won 3-1.

The Flying Eagles are aiming for a seventh AYC title having won it in 1983, 1985, 1987, 1989, 2005 and 2011.

“We will not go back to Nigeria without the cup,” declared coach Manu Garba, who has kept faith with several players from the team he led to win the FIFA U17 World Cup in the United Arab Emirates two years ago.

The Flying Eagles have been the toast of fans at Senegal 2015 – they are unbeaten in four matches and have scored the highest number of goals to average 2.75 goals a match.

Striker Taiwo Awoniyi, 17, has been one of the stars of this competition after grabbing three goals with the likes of skipper Musa Muhammed, Ifeanyi Matthew, Obinna Nwobodo and goalkeeper Joshua Enaholo also catching the eye.

However, Senegal, who will be cheered on by what is expected to be a sold-out crowd, cannot be discounted despite losing to their more illustrious opponents on the opening day.

They have shown remarkable character by bouncing back from that loss to reach their first-ever AYC final.

Third-choice goalkeeper Ibrahima Sy has impressed after he was thrust into the fray after his main rivals manned the post in the team’s first three games and he has vowed ‘Lionceaux’ will make a bigger history on Sunday.

“For the final, we will give everything to win the cup,” promised the Lorient of France youngster.

“It is destiny which has seen us face Nigeria again after they beat us in the opening match.

“It is not going to be an easy match, but personally I hope I’m picked again after all the hard work I have put in.”

Coach Joseph Koto blamed huge expectations for his team’s 3-1 loss to Nigeria two weeks ago.

“We were under a lot of pressure in the opening match and that was why we committed individual mistakes to gift Nigeria two early goals,” said the former Teranga Lions of Senegal coach.

“The final will be a feast and the so the fans should come out and support the team to win the first continental trophy for Senegal.”