Nigeria’s Golden Eaglets got off to a flying start when they trounced Santos FC of Suleija 6-0 in their first test game on Wednesday morning in Abuja.
The Eaglets showed a lot of promise, but also got a god contest from Santos
Browsing: Coach Manu Garba
Soft-spoken Garba, who was elevated to the U-20 team after the 2013 FIFA U-17 World Cup triumph, led the Flying Eagles to lift the African title in Senegal last year, but his boys failed to progress beyond the Round of 16 at the U-20 World Cup in New Zealand
Garba, who spoke at the post-match news conference, nonetheless praised goalkeeper Joshua Enaholo, saying he played a great game
On Monday, the African champions begin their campaign in New Zealand when they take on five-time champions, Brazil, at the 11,000-capacity Stadium Taranaki in New Plymouth. Kick-off time is 1pm local time, which is 2am Nigerian time on Monday
Genk defender Wilfred Ndidi is expected to join up with the rest of the squad on Monday, while three other Europe-based stars – Isaac Success, Kelechi Iheanacho and Moses Simon – are still being awaited
“While we are here, we will only think football, dream football and eat football because we want to make history by becoming the first Nigerian team to win the U20 World Cup in New Zealand
The players are Wilfred Ndidi (Genk, Belgium), Moses Simon (Gent, Belgium), Isaac Success (Granada, Spain) and Kelechi Iheanacho (Manchester City, England)
Energetic skipper Musa Muhammed and Manchester City whiz kid Kelechi Iheanacho top the list that has four goalkeepers, 10 defenders, 10 midfielders and 11 strikers
The match kicks off at 6pm Nigerian time
Garba’s insistence was in spite of his team winning their third straight match at the Super 4 Invitational Tournament by beating Warri Wolves FC 1-0 on Matchday Three
Garba, who once assisted late Golden Eaglets handler of the 2007 class, Yemi Tella, told The Eagle Online in Dubai on Wednesday afternoon that the team has left the disappointment of not beating Sweden in Tuesday’s second group match, which ended in a 3-3 score draw, but are now prepared to put smiles on the faces of Nigerians by playing and winning well in the match against Iraq
Many youngsters, including Oviemuno Ejaria, who is attached to Arsenal, and US-based Abuchi Obinwa, have been impressive during the trials but Garba reckons that players would be picked eventually based on merit, adding that Makanjuola has something to offer
The post match conference was nearly turned to a comedy when a Congolese journalist suggested that the Golden Eaglets deliberately lost to Cote d’Ivoire in order to edge out his country