The Chairman of the Nigeria Football Federation Technical and Development Committee, Barrister Chris Green, has expressed happiness with the Super Eagles win over the Red Lions of Luxembourg in an international friendly at the Stade Josy Barthel on Tuesday.
The Eagles won the match 3-1.
Green said: “I can say that now we have a young and ambitious group that we can be proud of.
“With the exception of two or three people, this is the Super Eagles’ team going forward.
“I am happy at the output of the squad in these two matches.
“I am also happy about the technical crew.
“The changes they made in both matches turned both games around.
“The NFF will ensure that the coaches get good exposure and necessary education to become even better managers.”
Green watched the match alongside NFF Executive Committee members, Ahmed Yusuf Fresh and Sharif Rabiu Inuwa.
Green added that the focus of the NFF is now on the 2018 FIFA World Cup qualifying series starting in October.
He said: “Yes, we see this team as the nucleus of the squad that will prosecute the FIFA World Cup qualifiers.
“For sure, the NFF will ensure that we make good use of the FIFA windows before then.”
Respected Belgian tactician, Tom Saintfiet, a household name in Africa, who watched the game at the Stade Josy Barthel, said: “Certainly, it is always more difficult to play the so-called smaller teams.
“They go all out at you because they really don’t have much to lose.
“The Super Eagles had a great game in the second half because they made good use of space and created several chances.
“It was a bit tight in the first half because Luxembourg refused to come out to play and concentrated on frustrating Nigeria.
“I think these matches, including the one against Mali in France, were good for the Super Eagles.”
Also at the match were officials of the Embassy of Nigeria in Belgium, which oversees the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg.
Head of Chancery, Ahmed Sulu Gambari, and Isiaka Abdulkadir, administrative attaché, expressed their joy over the Eagles’ performance.
Gambari said: “We heard of the victory over Mali in France and came here with a lot of expectations.
“We are very happy the Eagles responded immediately after Luxembourg scored to leave the scoreline respectable.
“This young team has shown a lot of promise.”
The sentiment was shared by the leaders of the 350-strong Nigerian community in Luxembourg, as expressed by the Chairman, Kayode Oke, and the secretary, Alhaji Babatunde Otukoya.
“I can tell you we are happy because of this result,” stated Oke. “We told the people of Luxembourg before the match our country is very big and much stronger in football. Now, the Super Eagles have proved us right.”
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