By Eniwoke Ibagere BBC Sport Online, Lagos

Nigeria's under-23 coach Godwin Uwua knows he is under pressure but won't admit it.

Uwua and his squad play in the regional Wafu (West African Football Union) Cup tournament starting on Wednesday, and need to perform well.

After four defeats against unfancied local clubs, several Nigerian football fans were calling for his dismissal.

Uwua is not worried by criticism of his team

And a recent 2-0 win over Tanzania's Taifa Stars in Lagos has done little to soothe frayed nerves.

It is a far cry from last year, when he was voted as Nigeria's best coach, after managing Aba-based Enyimba FC to its first league title.

But Uwua says he has nothing to worry about.

"I'm not under any pressure because I used those four games to pick my squad.

"We began camping late and the boys regularly go to play for their clubs, leaving our training schedule disorganised."

"But after the game against Tanzania, we now have a team, because the boys played better as a unit."

Priorities

Officials at the Nigeria Football Association are watching Uwua's performance closely.

"The coaches have to work hard because we cannot afford to be disgraced in the Wafu Cup," said FA secretary-general Taiwo Ogunjobi.

We now have a team

Godwin Uwua

Ogunjobi has been critical of the team

Eight teams will compete in the event, which has been dogged by problems and poor planning since the regional body tried to re-instate the tournament.

Wafu club and national team tournaments, a major part of the regional football calendar in the 1970's and 80's, have been neglected, due to lack of funds and internal politics within the organisation's membership.

Last year's tournament was cancelled after the original sponsors, TV Africa, pulled out.

But the company will be pumping one million dollars into the current competition, as well as providing live broadcasts of the games.