Coach Manu Garba would expectedly pick 18 out of the 30 players in camp later this week for the crucial second round-second leg African Under-17 qualifier away to Guinea even as Assistant Coach, Nduka Ugbade, has described the team as a bunch of warriors!
The Golden Eaglets take a three-goal lead to Conakry but Coach Garba reckons that his wards are battle ready and would scale the Guinean hurdle.
“Our training and preparations have been going well and we are happy with the condition of the players,” Manu said after Monday morning training, adding: “The players have coped very well despite the tough schedule they have been going through.”
The Golden Eaglets failed to meet their high scoring standard of at least six goals per match as they squandered several opportunities in their first leg 3-0 win against Guinea in Calabar, Cross River State penultimate weekend.
Speaking on that development, Coach Ugbade, who described the team as a bunch of warriors, stated that the team would bode well in Conakry.
He said: “We created about 12 scoring chances in the first leg against Guinea but we were able to score just three goals.”
The Eaglets have scored a total of 13 goals in three qualifying matches but conceded a goal, which was a spurious penalty in the 4-1 win in their away game against Niger in Niamey.
Altogether, the Nigerian youngsters have banged in 76 goals in 17 matches and Ugbade said he was confident that the team would make things difficult for the Guineans.
“We are hopeful and our confidence is based on the fact that we can create chances and the more this is done, the better for us,” he noted, adding: “I’m sure we should be able to score in Guinea and that would compound their problems based on the away goals rule.”
Meanwhile, there are no injury worries for the Golden Eaglets with confirmation from the team doctor, Dr. Ayodeji Olarinoye, that all the players jostling to be part of the contingent to Conakry are in good health.
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