Green spoke to a battery of waiting Colombian TV cameras as the African champions cruised into the south-western town of Cali for Sunday's potentially explosive quarter final clash with European champions France.

"We are here as the champions of Africa and we want to return to our country and continent as the champions of the world. We know it would not be easy, but we have prepared this team very well for the challenge. The Nigeria Government has spent a lot of money to get the team ready and we are happy with the results that have come so far.

"Yet, we would only be truly satisfied when the captain of our team lifts the trophy inside the main stadium in Bogota on Saturday evening," said Green, who is also a member of the Executive Committee of the Nigeria Football Federation.

The Flying Eagles, who swept to the continental title in South Africa early May, have the most impressive record at the on-going FIFA U-20 World Cup, with 13 goals for and only two against, and four matches won out of four.

Yet, Green and Head Coach Sam John Obuh refused to show over-confidence when confronted with the inevitable question of whether they are already looking forward to the final match.

Green said: "We have a team that is good enough to go all the way but we are taking it one match at a time and we believe we will be there. But on our radar now is France, the champions of Europe. A confrontation between the champions of Africa and the champions of Europe should provide the competition with some real gloss". And Obuh said: "I have always said we have to take it one at a time. We have won four matches and we have three left. Surely, we are going for the Cup, but the present challenge is France and we have to conquer that to be able to go further".

The Nigeria team arrived in the mountains-ringed cultural capital of this South American nation just before 2pm Thursday afternoon (8pm Nigeria time) and settled quickly into the impressiveIntercontinental Cali.

Although two players are struggling with minor knocks, Obuh told the media that he has a team good enough to stand the firepower of the French, who defeated another African representative Mali 2-0 in the group stage.

Nigeria have also conquered European opposition in this competition, with a 5-2 annihilation of Croatia and a 1-0 defeat of England in the Round of 16.

Green, who holds forth as leader of the Nigerian delegation until NFF President Aminu Maigari returns from London, told a Colombian newspaper that it would have been a disaster if no African team made it to the quarter finals at this FIFA U-20 World Cup.

"It would have been a calamity of sorts, given that an African country won the tournament at the last edition in Egypt. The Ghanaians are not here but they are our very good brothers and we are standing in for them as well as the entire Africa.

"Africa has a rich pedigree at this competition and it is just as well that we are still in here. Egypt did so well and played intelligently against Argentina but went out, just as Cameroon. Mali did not even make it to the knock-out stage.

"Now, we are all alone standing for Africa and we have a job to make the continent proud. Our President, Dr. Goodluck Jonathan spoke to the players and technical crew before the match against England and that got them going hard. This will carry them through the French hurdle and any other hurdle before the final.

"It would be interesting to have another clash with Argentina but the quarter final is the immediate challenge and we have to deal with that with a level head.

"I have heard people say that in 1993, Nigeria won the FIFA U-17 World Cup and two years later, it passed it on to Ghana, and that two years ago, Ghana won the U-20 World Cup and that now is Nigeria's time. No doubt, we have had a long wait to get our hands on the U-20 trophy, despite having played in the final on two occasions. We believe this is the right time and season", said Green.

Sunday's showdown at the 33,130-capacity Estadio Pasqua Guerrero in the heart of Santiago de Cali is one of four quarter-final clashes to savour, with Argentina also taking on Portugal, Brazil tackling Spain and hosts Colombia settling into a debate with Mexico.

Nigeria have reached the Final of this competition twice before, first in 1989 when she lost 2-0 to Portugal and six years ago in The Netherlands, when Lionel Messi scored a penalty kick in each half to lead Argentina to a 2-1 win. A squad that included current Super Eagles' Head Coach, Samson Siasia won bronze in then USSR in 1985.

The Nigeria Football Federation paid each of the players an improved $2,000 each bonus for the triumph over England, with the amount to be enhanced for the Champions Clash with France on Sunday.

NFF's Assistant General Secretary (Marketing), Idris Adama used the opportunity to heap plaudits on the people of Colombia for the tremendous support given the Flying Eagles so far.

"Colombians are wonderful people. When we were in Armenia, they supported our team all the way and even brought gifts for us, such as their unique hats. The people in the city and the hotel were marvelous. We experienced the same warmth and hospitality in Pereira and we continue to do well in this competition to justify the confidence of our fans here".