Flying Eagles defender, Valentine Ozornwafor has asserted that they are focused on today’s Africa U-20 Cup of Nations semi-final clash with Mali slated for Stade General Seyni Kountche in Niamey.
Nigeria’s U-20 national team had their final training session in Niamey by 5:30 pm local time and Ozornwafor who plies his trade with Enyimba in the Nigerian top-flight disclosed that they are battle ready to give a good account of themselves against the Malians who are no strangers to them.
He said they watched the Malians final group game against Ghana and that with what the coaches have told them ahead of today’s tie, they are confident that they are going to glide past them to qualify for the Sunday’s final.
“I will say that we are itchy to face Mali and book a place in the final of the competition,” Ozornwafor told SportingLife.ng.
have gone far in the competition for us to lose at this stage. We know the Malians very well because we played against them in the WAFU competition that we attended in December last year. We know that there are no the same game but we want to go a step better than them again in the semifinal game.
“We are happy that we have the World Cup ticket at hand and we are hoping that we add the African title to it to make it good competition for us. The coaches have done their part and it is left for the players to contribute theirs too on the pitch. We are happy that we do not have any injury worries and we are all intact and raring to go.”
The People’s Elephant defender noted that he has gained valuable lessons from the ongoing Africa U-20 Cup of Nations in Niger that will help shape his career and that he is looking forward to making it grand by the time they qualify for the final today.
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The Flying Eagles have won two games: Burundi (2-0), Niger Republic (1-0) and they drew one against South Africa enroute to the semi-final where they are yet to concede a goal after three games and Ozornwafor has been in the thick of the action in all the games.