By Daily Sports on October 28, 2015

Tension is already building in the Nigerian camp ahead of the round of 16 clash with Australia at the ongoing Chile 2015 FIFA Cadet World Cup at the Estadio Sausalito in Vina Del Mar.

Kick-off is 12am (midnight today) Nigerian time. It won’t be an easy one as this is a knock-out tie where vigilance and caution rule the game. Defending champions Nigeria have not lost any game at this stage but analysts say that this set of Eaglets must work extra hard to maintain that track record.

Head or tail the bottom line is that it won’t be a tea party as both sides try themselves for size. While Nigeria would be striving to keep her tradition intact, their opponents would be all out to change the course of history.

It is instructive to note that the Golden Eaglets are going into this game as Group A leaders, scoring eight goals and just conceding three. On the other hand, the Aussies came this far by the mercy on being one of the best loser teams in the competition. Even so, the team is no pushover despite where they are coming from. They are truly a solid side no serious squad would take for granted. Mercifully, the Nigerians, who have been training in Vina del Mar since arrival there on Saturday ahead of this make-or-mar encounter, are quite aware of that and would guide their loins in their bid to move ahead in the U-17 global football summit.

Already, Eaglets manager Emmanuel Amuneke to confess that the Aussies would be a tough nut to crash. It would be recalled that the Australians demonstrated some outstanding firmness to proceed from the competition’s supposed group of death (Group D) where they lost 4-1 to Germany, drew goalless with Mexico and knocked out Argentina 2-1.

The truth is that at this juncture, all the teams that qualified have to be respected. There is no hiding the fact that Aussies are a high-quality.

The championship’s history has it that Australia was beaten 4-0 by Uzbekistan in the last Round of 16 appearance at Mexico 2011. That notwithstanding, football being no mathematics, the Golden Eaglets are obliged to be at their best as Chile 2015 goes into the more interesting stages.

They must work extra hard and prepare physically and psychologically for the now or never game (against Aussies) after being defeated in their last group showdown to Croatia.

The lads must be told in clear language that there is no second chance at this stage of the championship and therefore must be total and thorough against their opponents. This is one game that requires a high level of attentiveness from the referee’s first blast of the whistle to the end of the anticipated epic showpiece.

•Photo shows Golden Eaglets skipper Kelechi Nwakali.

Source Daily Sports

Posted October 28, 2015

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