26th April, 2013
Chief Coach of Golden Eaglets, Manu Garba has declared that his team will not lose twice to Ivory Coast when both sides meet in the final of the 2013 African U-17 Championship in Morocco tomorrow.
The Ivoirians overpowered the Nigerian team to a 1-0 victory in one of the group stage matches and Coach of Eaglets, Manu Garba said that he has a game plan to stop their West African rivals in Marrakech tomorrow.
“In my life, I have always been an optimist and I remain confident that we shall win the trophy on Saturday by the grace of God.
“Of course it was not as if we didn’t prepare well before our last second group match against Ivoirians because we anticipated that they were going to sit back; unfortunately, some of our players were not at their best on that day,” he said.
Garba said having lost to Ivory Coast in the group stage,he is looking forward to the final with a lot of optimism.
“After we lost to Ivory Coast in the group stage, we took some positives from the game and we know how to deal with whatever they are going to come up with on Saturday.
“We conceded a late goal during the last game, but we are not going to dwell much on that again. Now we have another opportunity against them and we are looking forward to Saturday with a lot of optimism,” he said.
Joe Erico, a former Super Eagles goalkeeper’s trainer said though the Eaglets were defeated by the young Ivorian team, it will be a different ball game in tomorrow’s final.
“Eaglets’ loss to the Elephants might have a negative effect on them psychologically, but I am confident that the boys will not let it happen the second time. The Ivoirians are a bit too physical but not tactical, so the Eaglets should find a way to take advantage of that weakness as they meet in the final,” he said.
Ex-international, Friday Ekpo, said the Eaglets should not put themselves under pressure, but be focused as he believes the team have what it takes to lift the trophy.