Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) President Aminu Maigari says they are changing the image of Nigeria football.
Currently the most visible change has been the NFF board’s decision to appoint indigenous coaches for all their national teams. Nigeria has an abundance of former international players who after retiring from playing have secure qualification to coach.
However in the past they were routinely shunned in favour of Europeans. Many of these Europeans had no formal qualification in coaching.
“The current NFF board is committed to changing the face of Nigerian football in so many ways. The selection of indigenous coaches for all our national teams is just one of the areas in which we are rolling out the changes,” says Maigari.
The Nigerian senior men’s team currently campaign in the 2012 Orange Africa Cup of Nations qualifier is coached by Samson Siasia. Austin Eguavoen and John Obuh coach the men’s under-23 and under-20 teams respectively.
Perhaps the most significant change in Nigerian football so far was the appointment of Uche Eucharia as the coach of the women team. She is the first female head coach in Nigerian football history.
She guided the team to recapture the winner’s trophy at the 2010 Africa Women’s Championships in Johannesburg South Africa. Eucharia is the first African female coach to guide a team to win an international competition.
As a result, she achieved another Nigerian landmark when she became the first female to be named the Nigerian Coach of the Year. She is currently guiding the team through the qualifying contest for the All Africa Games. Eucharia is also gearing up to lead the Super Falcon to the 2011 World Cup in Germany in July.
“We are proud of our indigenous coaches. The NFF is giving them a chance to show what they can do,” says Maigari.
“So far the senior women and men’s  under-20 team have won Africa titles and will be campaigning in their respective World Cup contests in July. Therefore the faith we have placed in our indigenous coaching personnel is proving the NFF board took the correct decision,” Maigari declared.

Mali is positive they will overcome Nigeria despites the absence of their key striker Coulibaly Khalifa in their Orange Africa Youth Championships semi final odays (Thursday (28 April).
Khalifa who has scored twice is the tournament’s second highest goal scorer. Yet he will miss the clash against Nigeria after he received a red card in their encounter against Egypt.
“We are not discouraged by Khalifa’s absence. We will also play without defender Diarra Mady who got a second yellow card in the match against Egypt,” Malian coach Sekou Diallo revealed.
“We have strength in depth in every position on the field. If we miss these key players we always have a reliable substitute. What is most important is that we play as a unit,” says Diallo.
“In our last group match against Egypt we were reduced to ten men for over 70 minutes of the game. Yet we scored the only goal of the match in the second half,” Diallo points out.
Perhaps the driving force behind the Malian team is their date with history. Of the four semi finalists who include Cameroon, Egypt and Nigeria, Mali are the only team who have not won the trophy. Yet they are most regular participants in this tournament.
“Nigeria has beaten us several times at this championship. It is now our turn to turn the tables on them and go all the way and win this competition. That is our goal,” Diallo declared.
 

 Egyptian fans are hungry for more success after their team qualified for the Orange Africa Youth Championships semi finals in Soweto South Africa today Thursday (28 April).
By virtue of advancing to the semi finals Cameroon, Egypt, Mali, and Nigeria have qualified for the FIFA Under-20 World Cup. The contest will be staged in Columbia in July.
In semi finals action Nigeria plays Mali before Egypt challenge Cameroon at the Dobsonville Stadium in Dobsonville Soweto. Egyptian coach Diaa El Sayed says millions of fans back home now want he team to go all the way to the final  
 “Fans are in a celebratory mood back home. We have many problems in Egypt and the people want something to make them feel happy,” says coach el Sayed.
“After the Egyptian Pharaohs narrowly missed qualifying for the 2010 FIFA World Cup in South Africa many fans were deeply hurt. So our qualifying for Columbia has brought a smile on many faces in Egypt,” El Sayed explained.
He points out that the last time Egyptians paid so much attention to one of their teams was when the Pharoahs played in the 1990 World Cup in Italy. Now the under-20 side has ignited a frenzy of passionate celebration.
Egypt won the inaugural Africa Youth Championships in 1991. They repeated this feat in 2003.
“The ceiling of ambition and expectation among our fans has been raised. They now want us to bring this cup back to Cairo. For us here our focus is on winning today against Cameroon who are a tough team,” says El Sayed.

An improved defence could see Nigeria’s Flying Eagles progress to the final at the Orange Africa Youth Championships at the Dobsonville Stadium in Soweto South Africa on Thursday (April 28).
Nigeria’s campaign so far has been rather inconsistent. First they overcame their arch rivals and defending champions Ghana 2-1 in their opening Group B match.
This rare achievement lifted the team’s spirits ahead of their clash with Cameroon who routinely beat Nigeria in this age group contest. Once again Nigeria slumped to a 1-0 defeat against Cameroon.
“I lost almost my entire defence just before we came to South Africa for this tournament.  So building a credible defence was a work in progress as the competition got underway,” says coach John Obuh.
Going into Monday’s final preliminary against Gambia, the Nigerians had their backs to the wall and faced possible elimination. Obuh’s defensive formation finally clicked as they held the marauding Gambian strikers at bay in the first half.
The introduction of Stanley Okoro as an impact player in the second half paid off. He found the back of the net before skipper Ramon Azeez put matters beyond any doubts.
When the referee blew the final whistle there was a collective sigh of relief among Nigerians at the Milpark Stadium in Johannesburg. Nigeria secured a hard fought 2-0 victory.
 “As the competition unfolds we have eventually found a defensive formula. We have achieved our minimum goals of picking a ticket to the FIFA Youth World Cup in Colombia in July,” says Obuh.
“The core of this team comprises of those who played in the side I guided to win the silver medal at the 2009 FIFA Under-17 World Cup in Nigeria. They have been together as a playing unit for two years and know each other well,” Obuh explained.
“Therefore I expect more. Defensively we must remain alert against the skilful Malians in Thursday’s semi final. I am convinced we will achieve more in this tournament,” Obuh declared.

Basia Kenneth Makepe the Lesotho Under-20 team captain looks forward to playing in their senior national team, the Likoena.
Lesotho crushed out of the on-going Orange Africa Youth Championships after the group stage. Nonetheless, Makepe says the outing was a crucial eye opener.
Initially Lesotho lost to Egypt 2-0 and South Africa 2-1 in their Group A preliminaries. They went on to hold Mali to a 1-all draw
“We are proud that we have ended our campaign on a high. Egypt and South Africa lost to Mali. Yet we came from behind to draw with Mali,” says Makepe.
“Our team had never played a West African team prior to our fixture against Mali. West Africans are more exposed to international football. So the result against Mali was all the more important for us,” Makepe explained.
“Going forward I hope one day to play for our senior team the Likoena. I have seen how small countries like Gambia take on some of Africa giants like Ghana. So we in Lesotho should also do the same,” says Makepe.
On their way to qualifying for the Africa Youth Championships, Lesotho eliminated South Africa and Kenya. It is the second time since 2005 that they have reached this far in this particular tournament.
“When we first started playing for the under-20 side, some players in the teams struggled to find their feet. However after this championship we matured both as individuals and as a team.
 

 Cameroon’s qualification for the Orange Africa Youth Championships semi final signals a promising future for the country’s senior national team.
In their first Group B fixture Cameroon piped Gambia 1-0. Ohandza Franck’s strike just before the half time whistle, secured Cameroon victory over perennial rivals Nigeria on Thursday. 
“That was a tough match. Both teams wanted to reach the semis after we each won our first matches. There is always a big battle when we meet. My boys have done well to come out on top,” says Cameroon’s Under-20 coach Martin Ndtoungou Mpile.
Coach Martin Ndtoungou Mpile reckons that their booking a place in the last four with a match in hand has uplifted the spirits of many Cameroonian fans. Africa’s four semi finalists will be in action at the FIFA Under-20 World Cup in Columbia in July.
 “This victory lifts the cloud of gloom hanging over our fans. People have been unhappy since our senior team the Indomitable Lions lost 1-0 to the Teranga Lions (Senegal) in Dakar in the 2012 Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers last month,” Mpile revealed.
“Our vision is that after the World Cup in Columbia, some of these guys will make it into the senior team, the Indomitable Lions. Lately, our senior team has been losing matches,” the tactician pointed out.
“Those who do not make the senior team can reinforce our Under-23 side. The team was eliminated by Tanzania in the 2012 London Olympic qualifiers. However they still have a campaign in the All Africa Games,” Mpile pointed out.

The euphoria of qualifying for the FIFA Under-20 World Cup has not diverted Mali’s focus on the Orange Africa Youth Championships in Soweto South Africa.
Mali are the first Africans to qualify for the FIFA Under-20 World Cup to be staged in Columbia in July. Since Ghana won the championships two years ago, Mali are now bound to be the subject of public interest.
“Ghana’s success at the 2009 FIFA Youth World Cup that was played in Egypt is a huge achievement for Africa. We salute them as they set a high standard for all of us to follow,” the Malian Under-20 coach Sekou Diallo begun.
“However for us we are going to stay focussed on the current championship here in Soweto right up to the end. Only then will we start thinking about Columbia,” says coach Diallo
Mali opened their campaign on a high beating the host South Africa 4-2 in the tournament opener. Despite playing for over 75 minutes with ten men they secured a hardfought 1-0 victory over Egypt on Wednesday.
“Our match against a well disciplined and organised Egyptian side was particularly difficult. We had to reorganise ourselves after our striker was given a red card,” says Diallo.
“I had faith in my boys because we have played Egypt in Burkina Faso and elsewhere. We knew their style of play very well,” the Malian tactician explained.
The winning goal was scored by Amara Konate scored the goal that separated the two sides from a set piece in the 62nd minute.  Nonetheless he resists taking the glory alone.
 “Our strategy was to fall back and play in solidarity as we were one man short for most of the game. We attacked and defended as a unit. We just got one good opportunity and used it and that is how we won the game.
“We are ready for any team that will qualify for the semi final from the other group. The Mali team stands as a unit and not a band of individuals,” says Konate.

Egypt is pulling out all stops to beat hosts South Africa in their Group A tie at the Orange Africa Youth Championships in Dobsonville Soweto on Saturday (23 April).
At stake is a place in the championship semi finals. Even more important is a ticket to the FIFA Under-20 World Cup in Columbia in July. Africa will be represented in Columbia by the four semi finalists at this championship.
“The opportunity to play at the FIFA Under-20 World Cup is the supreme motivation we have used to prepare our players psychologically for their match against South Africa. Each of them has a desire to play on the world stage,” says Egyptian Under-20 coach Diaa El Sayed.
Egypt started their campaign in the tournament with a 2-0 victory over Lesotho. They went on to fall 0-1 to a ten man Malian outfit. Consequently, Egypt has three points. They scored two goals and conceded one.
However they tie on points with South Africa who suffered a 2-4 thrashing from Mali before edging Lesotho 2-1. Coach Sayed is adamant that even though they have a better goal average than South Africa they are not going to play for a draw against South Africa. 
“Right after our match against Mali on Wednesday, we began preparing for nothing else but a win against South Africans.  I told the players that if they are really hungry to go to the world Cup s they says then they must go for an outright win against South Africa,” coach El Sayed explained.
“We respect South Africa. They are a good team. This will be a difficult match or us to win as they will have the home crowd supporting them. My players are going to go all out and give their best. We aim to go to the World Cup,” El Sayed declared.

Lesotho aim for victory against Mali in their Group A fixture at the Orange Africa Youth Championships tie against Mali in Johannesburg South Africa on Saturday (23 April).
“Going forwards we are going to do our level best to secure maximum points from our last group match. We are going to encourage and motivate our players. With the moral support we have given them they are ready for the match against Mali,” says coach Leslie Notsi.
Earlier on Lesotho lost 0-2 to Egypt and 1-2 to South Africa. Mali top the group with six points from two games. Egypt and South Africa follow with here points, while Lesotho have no points.
Lesotho is keen to salvage some national pride in their tie against Mali at Milpark Stadium in Johannesburg before they return home. Mali qualified for the semi final with a match in hand.
“We have given the players a lot of moral support. They are hungry for victory and would like to return home with at least one victory from this tournament,” says Notsi.
 

Gambia are positive they will get a result against defending champions Ghana provided they play on a better football pitch at the Orange Africa Youth Championships in Soweto South Africa today Thursday.
In their opening group B tie Gambia lost 1-0 to Cameroon at Dobsonville Stadium in Soweto on Monday. In the other Group match Nigeria piped arch rivals Ghana 2-1.
Nothing short of a clear victory over Ghana will guarantee their campaign in back on track. Gambian coach Laminn Saar reckons that with a better playing surface his players are equal to the task at hand.
“We appeal to the organisers that in as much as they want to promote youth football on the continent, they should provide a good playing ground. Playing on the kind of pitch we did on Monday will not lead to progress in African football,” says coach Saar.
Following a heavy downpour on Monday, the pitch at Dobsonville Stadium was waterlogged. It appears the pitch lacks adequate drainage facilities.  Saar’s merely echoed the view expressed by all four team coaches in Monday’s Group B action.
Turning to this afternoon’s encounter coach Saar remains upbeat. “I am not afraid of Ghana. Based on the quality of players I have brought here, I know we will rise to the occasion against Ghana. All we need is a good playing field to execute attractive and winning football, ” Saar assures.