Nigeria Golden Eaglets enter today’s semi-final clash with Sweden as the favourites to hit the final. Apart from Argentina, the three-time champions are the other team to get to this stage of the FIFA Under-17 World Cup in United Arab Emirates without conceding any defeat.
Today, the stakes are higher. Eaglets know that they certainly cannot shove the Swedes aside without broking a sweat. The Scandinavians almost torpedoed Nigeria’s march to the fourth title with a 3-3 group stage match-up.
Now, Eaglets’ Head Coach, Manu Garba, who is hoping to emulate the likes of Sebastien Broadricks-Imasuen (1985), Fanny Amun (1993) and Yemi Tella (2007) as gaffers who conquered the cadet football world for Nigeria, knows he must up his game plan if his dream is to become reality.
“It will be the cup or nothing for my team at this Under-17 World Cup here in the UAE,” Manu yesterday assured Nigerians ahead of the clash with Sweden.
It is a fact that the Golden Eaglets dominated Group F before knocking out both Iran and Uruguay. Although their draw with Sweden could be seen as a slight stumble, their impressive displays of football prowess must be sustained today if the Swedes will not have the last laugh at the end of 90 minutes this evening.
“As an interim coach in 2007 when we were about leaving Nigeria for the World Cup in Korea, I told Nigerians that it’s the cup or nothing and I still maintain the same thing now because this team has come a long way and we cannot afford to fail,” Manu insisted yesterday
He is not bothered by the earlier scare his wards got from Sweden during the group stage.
“All my life, I have never entertained any fear and I don’t even know what fear means,” he said.
“Of course, I know that whatever happens is ordained by God, so I have no fear about Sweden,” he noted with philosophical calmness.
What may be giving Manu the boldness of having his eyes fixed on the trophy could be Eaglets’ offensive flair that has endeared them to even the Brazilians.
The goal-hungry duo of Kelechi Iheanacho and Musa Yahaya alongside Taiwo Awoniyi, who proved himself an excellent replacement for the injured Success Isaac, are any coach’s dream players in a team. Only Akinjide Idowu who is suspended through a second yellow card is the missing link today. Between the trio Iheanacho, Yahaya and Awoniyi lies the strength of Eaglets and they certainly cannot afford to fail Manu as Nigerians back home stay glued to televisions to catch the actions.
One player Eaglets’ back four need to watch out for is Valmir Berisha. The lofty Swedish striker has been instrumental in his side’s progress at UAE 2013, his most recent contribution a breathtaking back-heel into the Honduras net. The semi-final gives the young forward a chance to reassert his attacking credentials, which were clearly in evidence during Sweden’s last encounter with Nigeria. “Nigeria assumed they were going to breeze past the Swedish minnows and claim an easy victory. We showed them how well we can play,” Berisha had said after the 3-3 draw with Eaglets.
Of course, Swedish coach, Roland Larsson, is likely to retain the front pairing of inspirational Elias Andersson and Gustav Engvall, combining with Berisha up near the goal.
While Nigeria eventually topped the section with seven points, Sweden sneaked into the next round of the competition as one of the best first round losers after finishing third with four points behind Mexico who had six.
Meanwhile, Brazilian referee Heber Roberto Lopes, who was in charge of Golden Eaglets’ 4-1 thrashing of Iran, in a Round of 16 match, will again handle the Eaglets clash with Sweden at the Rashid Stadium in Dubai today.
0 comments:
Post a Comment