Flying Eagles depart for Algiers

Abuja - The Flying Eagles will on Wednesday depart from Tunis for Algiers, the venue of the 2013 African Youth Championship (AYC). This is contained in a statement by the team’s Media Officer, Samm Audu, in Abuja on Tuesday The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the Nigerian men’s U-20 team  have been training for over two weeks ahead of the championship. The Flying Eagles, who are the competition’s defending champions after winning in 2011 at South Africa, are one of the teams billed for the March 16 to March 30 event. "It is an hour's flight from Tunis to Algiers on board Algeria Airlines and the Nigerian team will spend a night in Algiers before they fly out to Oran on Thursday by 9.10 am. "It will also be an hour's flight, according to team Secretary, Aliyu Ibrahim," the statement said. It said that a top official of Nigeria Football Association (NFA), Dr Sanusi Mohammed, who is its Director of Competitions, had already arrived Oran ahead of the team. NAN reports that the Flying Eagles will open their Group B campaign against Mali on March 17 in Oran from 5.30 pm local time. The Flying Eagles will also take on debutants Gabon and DR Congo in group games. Hosts Algeria are in Group A alongside Ghana, Egypt and Benin Republic.