Abuja- Emmanuel Amuneke, the Golden Eaglets’ Head Coach, on Tuesday in Abuja said Nigeria would be the team to beat at the forthcoming CAF U-17 Championship in Niger next month.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the Golden Eaglets are pitched against hosts Niger, Guinea and Zambia in Group A of the competition.
Amuneke told NAN that the Eaglets, being world champions at the under-17 level, will be the side every team at the championship in Niger would want to beat.
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He however said he and his colleagues in the team’s technical crew were leaving nothing to chance to ensure that the team was prepared for the task ahead.
“I believe that every team that qualified for the tournament, especially those in our group, have equal chances.
“For the mere fact that they qualified for the tournament shows that they deserve to be respected as they will also be fighting to secure a World Cup ticket.
“We all know the pedigree of the Zambians, as they always have a good youth team.
“We were also privileged to play the Guineans during the qualifiers and I can say that they are no pushovers.
“So, we are optimistic about the tournament and the only thing we can do now is to remain focused and keep working very hard,’’ the former Super Eagles forward said.
The tournament in Niger will hold from Feb. 15 to March 1, with the semi-finalists guaranteed places at the 2015 FIFA U-17 World Cup.
The global competition is scheduled for Oct. 17 to Nov. 8 in Chile.
NAN recalls that the Golden Eaglets finished runners-up at the 2013 CAF U-17 Championship in Morocco.
This was after they lost 4-5 on penalty kicks to the Junior Elephants of Cote d’Ivoire, following a pulsating 1-1 draw.
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They however went on to win the 2013 FIFA U-17 World Cup in the UAE to lead the way in the FIFA U-17 World Cup ranking.
The Eaglets have won the tournament four times (1985, 1993, 2007 and 2013) and finished runners-up three times (1987, 2001 and 2009).
Meanwhile, Prince Udofia, the team’s Co-ordinator, has revealed that the number of players presently in the team’s camp has now been pruned down to 60.
He said this was to enhance training and screening of players as preparations continue ahead of the tournament.
NAN reports that the Golden Eaglets have been in camp since Dec. 14.(NAN)
