Golden Eaglets

A cross-section of football coaches in Abuja on Monday said the Golden Eaglets need to stay focused during their game with Australia on Wednesday in Chile.

The Nigerian under-17 male football team, Group A winners  are meeting Australia at the ongoing FIFA U-17 World Cup.

The coaches, in separate interviews with NAN, said the team was still capable of excelling at the competition in spite of the setback of losing their final group phase game.

They had lost 1-2 to Croatia in the match at Estadio Francisco Sanchez Rumoroso in Coquimbo on Saturday.

The coach of Skillful Future Stars Football Club of Owerri, Chinedu Iwu, was optimistic the team would perform better in their next game in spite of the loss.

“In spite of the team’s loss to Croatia, I am sure that they will further show what they are worth in the Round of 16 stage of the tournament.

“They won their first two games. So, I am sure they will be able to correct their errors and work on themselves before their next match,’’ Iwu said.

Tukura John, coach of Basic Maracana FC of Abuja, commended the team’s earlier performance, but warned that they must not repeat the same mistakes of their last game.

“They are a strong team, and we all know that, and I am sure they will bounce back. We must give kudos to them for their two victories.

“They must show some level of seriousness in their next game with Australia. They will beat them (Australia) if they play with determination,’’ he said.

Ngozi Ezeh, coach of Capital City Doves, a Nigeria Women Professional Football League (NWPFL) side, urged the Eaglets to remain focused in their next game.

“We were not expecting them to lose in their last game. We thought they would continue with the same spirit they started the tournament.

“Now, they should concentrate on how to defeat Australia. I urge them to remain focused and not relent,’’ she said.

Barnabas Imenger, General Manager of Lobi Stars FC of Makurdi, said by now the team’s technical crew must have gone back to the drawing board to do the necessary things.

“I’m sure coach Emmanuel Amuneke and other members of the technical crew must have worked hard on the entire team.

“They must have gone back to the drawing board to correct all the lapses. They must touch all the various departments of the team.

“We believe in their ability to deliver, and they will not fail us and I believe that they will make us proud. They must remember that we have a target,’’ he said.

NAN reports that Australia advanced from the tournament’s Group D where they lost 1-4 to Germany, drew goalless with Mexico and edged Argentina 2-1.

The championship which began on Oct. 17 will end on Nov. 8.