Nigeria’s cadet nationwide crew, Golden Eaglets’ coach, Manu Garba has declared that the most important goal on his thoughts on the upcoming West African Soccer Union (WAFU)-B U17 Championship in Yamoussoukro, Cote d’Ivoire is to qualify for subsequent 12 months’s continental showpiece.
Sports247 studies that Garba, who gained the 2013 FIFA U17 World Cup within the United Arab Emirates with such abilities like Kelechi Iheanacho and Taiwo Awoniyi in his crew, is considering of replicating the identical feat along with his new set of Eaglets’ gamers.
The lads actually confirmed nice promise of their build-up programme in direction of the WAFU-B contest, which was initially meant to happen in Abeokuta and Ikenne, however will now start this weekend at Stade dy Lycee Scientifique in Yamoussoukro.
Having gained 10 of their build-up matches, with two attracts and a single loss, enacting 25 targets for and solely 5 scored towards them, Garba’s newest squad seems set to fly, as they start their marketing campaign towards Benin Republic subsequent week Wednesday after which tango Burkina Faso of their second group sport.
Garba is already wanting past each matches, as he has his eyes set on selecting an U17 African Cup of Nations ticket, and the petit tactician affirmed that every one his gamers are able to shine and make Nigeria proud.
He declared, “I’m pleased with the boys, and I do know they’re all able to symbolize this nation. They aren’t solely able to symbolize the nation, but additionally to qualify for the under-17 AFCON, which is the principle goal of us going to this WAFU match.”
Nonetheless, Garba additionally admitted that a few of his finest lads needed to be dropped after failing the necessary Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) checks for his or her age confirmations, then conceded that he should regulate his techniques in accordance with the gamers now out there to him.
He identified, “This isn’t the ultimate crew, however we’re going with what is on the market for now. There was an official MRI check final week. We had plenty of gamers who had been very, excellent however, sadly, couldn’t be right here.
“I made positive that, earlier than any participant even comes for trials, they endure an MRI check. However, underneath one month and two weeks, a few of them rose from Grade 3 to Grade 5. That qualifies them to play at CAF and FIFA ranges however, right here in Nigeria, we don’t do this. We don’t need to get to the competitors, and the gamers sadly shoot to Grade 6.”
Garba, who was in Nigeria’s under-20 squad that created waves on the 1983 World Youth Championship in Mexico, concluded by expressing optimism that every one the gamers who will journey out to Cote d’Ivoire with him on Wednesday have what it takes to win the upcoming championship and decide a continental ticket.
“We’ve been very, very cautious, and nearly all of our gamers are under the qualification restrict. Three quarters of the boys are from Grades 1, 2 and three; with solely two of them from Grade 4. So, we’re good to go,” Garba asserted.
