Maigari: We want the U20 World Cup

President of the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) Aminu Maigari has tasked the Flying Eagles to go all the way and win the 2013 FIFA U20 World Cup.

On Thursday, Nigeria became the first African team to reach the Round of 16 of Turkey 2013 and await the runners-up in Group F, which has
Uzbekistan, Croatia, Uruguay and New Zealand.

Maigari urged the team to make history by winning the new U20 World Cup trophy at stake in Turkey.

“We want you to win this tournament. We have supported you by ensuring you do not lack anything including being in training camp for three straight months and we now want you to deliver,” Maigari charged the team on arrival in Turkey from the FIFA Confederations Cup in Brazil.

"We have fulfilled all our obligations to you and now we expect you to justify our confidence in you."

The Nigeria U20s trained in Germany and Austria as well as featured at the Toulon International Tournament in France to prepare for the World Cup.

Coach John Obuh steered the team to the quarterfinals of the 2011 World Cup in Colombia and the Flying Eagles also made history as the first African side to win the FIFA Fair Play trophy at the competition.

Nigeria’s best performance at the U20 World Cup was achieved in 1989 and 2005, when they reached the final.

Meanwhile, the Flying Eagles will observe a rest day on Friday and are billed to be hosted by the Nigerian community in Turkey later in the day.