Youth and Sports Minister, Barr. Solomon Dalung, alongside Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) President Amaju Pinnick, Vice Presidents Seyi Akinwunmi and Shehu Dikko, and Chairman of the Technical and Development Committee Chris Green will be in the stands when Nigeria confront Niger Republic in Kigali on Monday evening.

The Super Eagles B clash with the Mena in one of the opening matches of Group C of the 4th African Nations Championship. Venue is the Stade Regional Nyamirambo, from 5pm Nigeria time.

The high-powered Nigeria delegation arrived in Kigali on Sunday and had dinner with the players and officials of the Super Eagles at the Hills View Hotel, where Sports Minister Dalung delivered the message of President Muhammadu Buhari (GCFR) to the group.

“I want to assure you that Government and people of Nigeria are with you as you start this campaign for honours. President Buhari has mandated me to tell me that you should confront all challenges with courage and confidence because he is with you in spirit. You have shown excellent patriotic spirit and we are proud of you. Go to battle with the mind to conquer,” Dalung told the team.

The Eagles perfected strategies for the three-week championship at the High Performance Centre in Pretoria, South Africa, where they spent two weeks, and will start as tournament favourites being the top-ranked team from the last competition present in Rwanda.

Nigeria won bronze in South Africa in 2014, but champions Libya and runners-up Ghana both failed to qualify for Rwanda. (thenff.com)

•Photo shows Sports Minister Dalung.