The Golden Eaglets would seek a convincing victory against their Malian counterparts on Sunday to ensure the country’s smooth passage to the African Under-17 championship for the first time in six years!
Nigeria’s last appearance at the Under-17 continental championship was in 2007 when the late Coach Yemi Tella guided the Eaglets to victory in Cotonou en route to Korea where they equally emerged world champions.
Coincidentally, current Golden Eaglets’ Head Coach, Manu Garba, assisted Tella in 2007 and has enthused that the country would qualify for Morocco 2013 by ensuring a resounding victory against Mali on Sunday to make the second leg in Bamako in a fortnight mere formality.
Manu said: ” Frankly, I don’t like talking too much ahead of our matches but there are no two ways about this, we have to beat Mali well on Sunday.”
The Junior Eagles of Mali reached this stage after a 6-3 aggregate win over Mauritania.
Manu added: “Our objective remains the same, win our matches in convincing style and qualify for the 2013 African Under-17 Championship and we are confident that the boys would deliver the goals following their excellent form in our training sessions.”
Meanwhile, the Golden Eaglets are leaving no stone unturned as the team perfects strategies for the crucial game with the players sharpening their skills in shooting penalty kicks.
Manu said: “WWe have done well up to this stage and the truth is that we have not failed to score at least three goals in all our past matches and Mali would not be an exemption by the grace of God.
“We are taking no chance at all and we are ready to score goals through any available opportunity especially through set pieces.”
Meanwhile, the Malians are expected to fly into Calabar on Saturday morning and would have a feel of the pitch at the U.J Esuene Sports Stadium as mandated by Confederation of African Football.
In a related development, the maximum price for ticket for Sunday’s match is N1,000 for the state box while the covered stand and popular side is pegged for N500 and N100 respectively.
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