By Victor Enyinnaya, Lagos on November 5, 2015

Defending champions, the Golden Eaglets of Nigeria, will be up and doing as they gear towards repeating the history of UAE 2013 edition of the FIFA U-17 World Cup as they take on Mexico in a semi-final game inside the main bowl of  Estadio Municipal Ester Roa Concepcion  on from 12:00 a.m. Nigerian time (midnight today/Friday morning).

Daily Sports recalls that the Eaglets had in 2013 in the United Arab Emirates beaten Mexico 6-0 at the group stage and later thrashed them 3-0 in the final to lift the trophy. Both countries have met at this level three times; Nigeria won two times, scoring nine goals as against Mexico’s two goals. In the case of this on-going competition, Nigeria has the upper hand head to head, having scored 17 goals and only conceded three; while Mexico scored 12 and conceded two.

It is the above that must have informed the optimism expressed by Eaglets Head Coach Emmanuel Amuneke that his wards would earn victory against the intruders to roam into the finals of the Chile 2015 FIFA U-17 Cadet Championship.

The one-time African Player of the Year added that with the current form and focus his lads have given to this national assignment there will be nothing that would stand between them and victory against Mexico. He however ruled out under rating the team from Europe.

Amuneke insists that the Golden Eaglets are quite aware of the enormous task ahead, therefore would leave nothing to chance. According to the gaffer, who was in the technical crew of Manu Garba in UAE triumph over Mexico, the Eaglets have reached a point of no return as they have all it takes for this crunchy stage.

The coach is not alone on this page as captain of the side, Kelechi Nwakali, lends his voice, revealing that the resilient Nigerian spirit and the calmness in the camp no doubt would be added impetus as they try Mexico for size. The hard-working defender called on Nigerians to pray for the team.

Goals king Victor Osimhen says his pre-occupation is to play his role well and get goals that would lift Nigeria to the finals of the tournament. As a team player, he would work hand-in-hand with his teammates to achieve that, he said.

On his part, overlapping scoring defender Udochukwu Anumudu said the technical crew has been doing a lot on them for this game, adding that the team would play strictly to instruction in order to overcome the invaders. He said that no team would be taken for granted haven reached this level. They would try hard to ensure that history would be repeated against them, Anumudu assured.

To that effect, the supremo of the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF), Amaju Pinnick, has called on all Nigerians to continue their total support for their darling Golden Eaglets as they search for victory over Mexico. He posited that the players have shown enough depth to enable them to successfully defend the title.

“If you have been following the exploits of the boys, you agree with me that they showed tactical superiority over the Brazilians last Sunday, sending them home by 3 – 0. The truth is that we must laud Coach Emmanuel Amuneke and his crew. They have kept faith and come thus far with this great job on the boys. The side kept improving in each game. God would be with them today against Mexico. Honestly, what the Eaglets team needs now is support and prayer. Just two games to go and they become champions again. So help us God,” Amaju stated.

Reports reaching Daily Sports have it that the Mexican tactician, Mario Arteaga, has been perfecting measures that he believes would cage Osimhen as he believes that once the gangling free-scoring lad is put adequately in check the Nigerian side is totally cut off. However, book makers and pundits are at a loss as to how Arteaga’s strategy would work against a team whose even defenders can score goals from long distance angles.

•Photo shows Golden Eaglets’ lethal goal poacher Victor Osimhen.

Source Daily Sports

Posted November 5, 2015

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