Flying Eagles of Nigeria would on Sunday evening in Dakar, Senegal battle against the Junior Teranga Lions of Senegal for a seventh African Youth Championship title.
The Nigeria U-20 team had won the tournament on six occasions – 1983, 1985, 1987, 1989, 2005 and 2011.
They have also lost two finals – in 1999 to hosts Ghana and in 2007 to hosts Congo.
To reach their ninth championship game, the team led by coach Manu Garba beat Senegal (3-1), Congo (4-1) and drew 2-2 with Cote d’Ivoire in the group phase.
They then edged past arch-rivals Ghana 2-0 in the semi-final.
Senegal’s ‘Lionceaux’, on the hand, have done very well to bounce back from an opening day loss to Nigeria to draw with Cote d’Ivoire 1-1, before they recorded a dramatic 4-3 win over Congo to qualify for their first-ever AYC semifinals.
Their previous two outings in this competition saw them crash out in the first round, in 1993 and 1995.
Coach Joseph Koto said that over the years Senegal have produced top quality players, but they are yet to win a major continental trophy and this could well be their biggest chance to do so.
“Senegal deserves a continental trophy because we have quality players, but somehow we have never always managed to win it,” said the former Senegal full international coach.
“Our main target was to qualify for the World Cup and we have achieved this. And now our next objective is victory in the final.”
He therefore called on the fans to come out in their numbers to cheer his team to an historic victory inside the 45,000-capacity Leopold Sedar Senghor Stadium in Dakar.
“The final will be a feast and I want the fans to come out again to support the team because it is very important for us to win this tournament now.”
However, Flying Eagles assistant coach Nduka Ugbade warned that Senegal could suffer a bigger defeat on Sunday than they did on the opening day of the competition.
“If Senegal come out to play, the defeat could be bigger than the first time we clashed,” he said.
“We know what is at stake and we will give everything to win this final,” vowed skipper Musa Muhammed, who is the leading scorer in the competition with four goals.
The Flying Eagles have all 21 squad players available for selection after initial injury scare for midfielder Ifeanyi Matthew, which forced him to be rested for the final group game against Cote d’Ivoire.
Kick-off time is 7.30pm local time, which is 8.30pm in Nigeria.
