Flying Eagles to play in 12-nation tourney in France

As Eaglets departs for Mali

Golden Eaglets coach, Manu Garba

National U20 male football squad, Flying Eagles will be playing in 2013 edition of the Toulon International Tournament in France.

Our correspondent gathered that the championship, hosted by France in the historic city of Toulon will feature 12 countries from five confederations (CAF, AFC, CONMEBOL, CONCACAF and UEFA). Taking part in the event next year are Argentina, Australia, Ukraine, Uzbekistan, Cameroun, Wales, Turkey, United States, Brazil, England and hosts France.

The tourney that is in its 41st edition will take place between May 29 and June 7, 2013 is played with 40-minutes halves and is not under any association’s control. The current holder of the title is Mexico which defeated Turkey 3-0 in the final earlier this year.

The most successful team in the tourney is France which has won the title 11 times. Cote d’Ivoire is the only African country to have ever won the title. This it did in 2010.

Meanwhile, the national U16 squad, Golden Eaglets will head for Bamako, Mali on Wednesday in readiness for the weekend clash against the Junior Eagles of Mali.

According to coach of the team, Manu Garba, who confirmed the team’s movement, his wards have what it takes to defeat the Malians and pick the ticket to the 2013 Africa U17 Championship in Morocco. He assured that the sizes of the Malians would not stop the Nigerian lads.

“God willing, we are leaving for Mali on Wednesday and we have prepared well. If for ill-luck, we would have score more against them in Calabar. But we did not see them before we played them. Now that we have, we know how to play them in Bamako,” he said.

In the same vein, indications have emerged that the NFF may not have officially complained to the Confederation of African Football (CAF) about the ages of the Malians. A source noted that the NFF appears not to have any official document to show for filing the protest as it said some days ago.