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Governor Isa Yuguda of Bauchi State has urged Nigerians to pray for the success of the Flying Eagles, in their African Youth Championship campaign in Libya next year.  Yuguda made the call when the players and their coach called on him in Bauchi at the weekend.

The governor commended the resilience and brilliant performance of the team at the last two editions of the Four Nations’ Cup competition held in Egypt and South Africa respectively.

He urged the players to make Nigeria proud in the forthcoming  championship in Libya by repeating the feat achieved during the Four Nations’ Cup competition in South Africa.

Yuguda had earlier offered to host the team in Bauchi before their campaign in Libya. The team has already commenced camping in Bauchi.

The Flying Eagles will play the qualifying match against Guinea at the Abubakar Tafawa Balewa Stadium (ATBS), Bauchi, from July 23 to July 26.

The governor said that his decision to host the U-20 team in Bauchi followed a request from the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF).

He said that the NFF considered Bauchi as camp for the team because of the “excellent and standard facilities provided by the State Government during the last U-17 World Cup”. “I assure you that you will continue to be camped in Bauchi as long as you may wish,” the governor said.

Responding, Mr. John Ovuh, the team’s chief coach, thanked the State Government for the gesture and commended it for the standard facilities provided at the Federal Government-owned stadium.

Tonye Orabere