Nduka Ugbade, the Assistant Coach of Nigeria’s Flying Eagles, on Saturday said his team is “battle-ready” to conquer Brazil in their opening match of the ongoing World Cup in New Zealand.
Ugbade told the News Agency of Nigeria from the tournament venue that the Eagles were ready as a team to win their opening match on June 1 against Brazil.
He said: “All is set for our first match because winning an opening game will help us to set the pace for our subsequent outings at the competition.
“The players and goalkeepers are in fantastic shape and all the technical crew are working round the clock to ensure that all goes down well.”
NAN reports that the competition commenced on May 30 and will end on June 20.
The Eagles/Brazil match will be played at the Stadium Taranaki, New Plymouth, New Zealand.
The first edition of the tournament was staged in 1977.
This year’s edition is the 20th in the series.
The last was held in 2013 in Turkey at which France won.
Unfortunately, France, the defending champions, would not be part of the ongoing event for failing to make it to the final round of the UEFA qualifying tournament.
France has now become the fourth consecutive incumbent title holder to fail to qualify for the subsequent tournament.
Nigeria is drawn in Group E alongside, Brazil, North Korea and Hungary.
The coach and ex-international said they had prepared all the players adequately ahead for the tasks ahead.
Ugbade said: “We have prepared them physically and emotionally for the game because it is only when they are in stable state of mind that they can deliver.
“I am confident of their abilities and I believe strongly in them that they will be able to put in all their best.”
He, however, urged Nigerians based in New Zealand to come out in en masse to support their team to victory.
“Support from the crowd will also spur the players to intensify effort at winning on the pitch of play,” Ugbade said.
Nigeria has been runners up twice in 1989 and 2005 and third place winners in 1985.
This is the first time the competition would be held in New Zealand.
Not less than 52 matches will be played in seven host cities.
NAN.
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