FLYING EAGLES BEGIN AYC TITLE DEFENCE JULY

Nigeria will begin the defence of the African Youth Championship when they take on either Sudan or Tanzania at the end of July.

The winners of the first round match-up between Sudan and Tanzania, which is slated for between April and May, will take on the reigning African Under-20 champions on the weekend of 27-29 with the return leg match in Nigeria a fortnight later.

And the winners of this second round fixture will then battle the winners of the match between Congo and South Africa.

The Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) is expected to name a new coach for the Nigeria Under-20s this week.

The Flying Eagles defeated Cameroon 3-2 to win the 2011 AYC staged in South Africa.

The next AYC will be staged by Algeria next year with the top four teams flying Africas flag at the 2013 FIFA U20 World Cup in Turkey between June 21 and July 13.