Flying Eagles battle Black Satellites for three points .

Flying Eagles take the pitch against defending champions and World Cup holders Ghana at the Rand Stadium, Johannesburg today in the opening match of Group B of the 17th African Youth Championship.

The tournament favourites clash in what should be the match of the group phase at the 25,000-capacity Rand Stadium, expected to be dominated by Nigerians based in the Rainbow Nation.

Nigeria’s Flying Eagles have reached the Final of the world championship on two occasions but in October 2009, Ghana beat all-comers to lift the FIFA U-20 World Cup in Egypt.

Sam John Obuh’s team is propped by nine members of the FIFA Under 17 World Cup silver –winning squad of 2009, led by intelligent midfielder Ramon Azeez, who has recently been snapped up by Spanish top division side, Almeria FC.

There are also goalkeepers Danjuma Paul and John Felagha, defender Mohammed Goyi Aliyu, midfielder Abdul Jeleel Ajagun and forwards Olanrewaju Kayode, Edafe Egbedi, Stanley Okoro and Terry Envoh.

Defender Terna Suswan and forward Ahmed Musa have played for the Nigeria senior team and midfielders Gbenga Arokoyo and Emmanuel Anyanwu have true quality and have learnt to collaborate well with the entire unit after months of training camps and friendly matches in three different continents.

While midfielder Chidi Osuchukwu and striker Uche Nwofor have shown high competence in front of goal, the star man for Nigeria remains the Holland-based winger Ahmed Musa, who is now a regular for the Super Eagles and is also on the shopping list of the Olympic team.

NFF President Aminu Maigari will lead the support for the Flying Eagles who also play to Cameroon on Thursday and Gambia on Sunday in the group phase.