By Daily Sports Nigeria on May 8, 2023
Nigeria’s coach Nduka Ugbade said he was relieved to see his side come off the right side of a 3-2 thriller against South Africa and qualify to the quarter finals of the U-17 Africa Cup of Nations in Constantine on Saturday.
The Golden Eaglets returning to winning ways after suffering a 1-0 defeat to Morocco in the second game of the tournament.
With a quarter-final spot and a World Cup ticket at stake, Ugbade’s boys on Saturday came back from behind twice to snatch a win in a thrilling game.
The victory saw Nigeria finish second in Group B and earn an available automatic qualification slot.
Speaking in an interview with CAFOnline, the 1985 FIFA U-16 World Championship winner said he was relived to have qualified for the next round.
“It was a really tough match because South Africa is a really good team and they gave us a tough time. They have three players that are really good; Mabena (Siyabonga), Mkhawana (Vicky) and Dokunmu (Michael). They are very talented players and I was honestly scared of them at first,” Ugbade said.
He was delighted to see his side finally firing well to score three goals, having struggled to find the back of the net in their first two games despite creating so many chances.
“We worked a bit in training and we did some corrections. We realized that it was purely psychological and we talked to the players and we saw an improvement today. We might have conceded two but I am glad we scored three,” said the tactician.
Source Punch Ng
Posted May 8, 2023
You may also like...
Mourinho hopes for two summer buys
Niguez stunner hands Atletico crucial win
MKO Abiola Stadium to Host Super Eagles’ Matches...
Bigger clubs than Leicester will come for Ahmed...
Africa’s first player and solar-powered football pitch unveiled...
U.S Billionaire Friedkin Completes Takeover Of AS Roma...

100 golfers storm Uyo for Ladies Golf Championship
Fernandez keen to make mark with Eagles
Individual awards race heats up at NCF T20i
Lagos Boxing Hall of Fame returns Saturday
Ikeja Golf Club captain bows out in style
NSC warns against conflict in NBBF elections
Team Nigeria chases World Champs spot in Botswana
Igali vows thrills at 4th National Wrestling Classics
Okpala backs Chelle’s contract demand
Lagos sets up LOC for National Intermediate Games
D’Tigress to face Los Angeles Sparks in US tour
Family seeks NSC, NFF support for Nwosu’s burial
Rangers International going, going . . . (63,653 views)
Amaju Pinnick: A cat with nine lives (54,980 views)
Second Term: Amaju Pinnick, Other NFF Heavyweights Home to Roost •How Pinnick Broke the Jinx (52,896 views)
Current issues in Nigerian sports: Matters arising (52,505 views)
Sports Development: Zenith Bank on the zenith (52,429 views)
Missing $150,000 IAAF Grant: Solomon Dalung’s Hide and Seek game (52,331 views)
Gov. Abdullahi Ganduje’s solid footprints, commitment to sports development in Kano State (52,198 views)
NFF Presidency: Pinnick, Maigari, Ogunjobi, Okoye in Battle for Supremacy (51,739 views)
Olopade, BET9A wave of revolution in NNL (50,929 views)
Commonwealth Games 2018: Shame of Muhammadu Buhari, Solomon Dalung (49,437 views)
Ibrahimovic’s Man U exit: Whose decision is it? And in whose interest? (47,838 views)
John Mikel Obi: Segun Odegbami’s Outrageous Call! (47,309 views)