LAGOS, March 20 (Xinhua) -- Nigeria has formally presented a bid to host the FIFA Under-17 World Cup in 2009.

    A Nigerian delegation, led by the Secretary-General of the Nigeria Football Association Bolaji Ojo-Oba, presented the bid at FIFA Headquarters in Zurich, Switzerland over the weekend.

    In a telephone interview with local media, Ojo-Oba said, "We were well received at Zurich and of course, we believe that our bid will be successful. What is left for us is to look forward to hosting the first Under-17 World Cup in 2009."

    He said the Nigerian bid had enjoyed support from the Presidency and all relevant sectors of the football family.

    Nigeria bid for the World Under-20 Youth Championship in 1995 but eventually lost it to Qatar before winning the rights to stage the 1999 edition which was adjudged as successful.

    The Golden Eaglets won the maiden U-17 World Cup trophy staged in China in 1985. The team won it eight years later in Japan and has already qualified for 2007 U-17 World Cup billed for South Korea in September.