Emmanuel Amuneke, Golden Eaglets handler, has assured that his lads will do everything possible to stop Mexico from avenging the defeat they suffered in the hands of Nigeria two years ago in UAE.
It is recalled that the Eaglets in UAE defeated Mexico in the final to lift the trophy which they are now doing everything possible to defend.
Amuneke told NFF’s official website, thenff.com, yesterday that his boys are mentally and psychologically prepared for the semi final battle against the Mexicans.
He added that the Eaglets will also be playing to avoid a repeat of the Chile ’87 debacle when the Flying Eagles bowed to Brazil by 0-4 in the FIFA U-20 World Cup in the same city of Concepcion where today’s game is being played.
The city of Concepción and Estadio Municipal for that matter has gone down in the history of Nigerian football as the venue where the country’s star-studded U-20 squad of 1987 met their waterloo following a humiliating 4-0 loss to Brazil at the FIFA U-20 World Cup, Chile ‘87. Amuneke said the unfortunate loss by the Flying Eagles 28 years ago in Concepción will be an added motivation to guide the Golden Eaglets against defeat to the Baby El Tri on Thursday (today).
“Sincerely, I can’t remember anything about Chile 1987 and I don’t want to be bothered about that,” said the straight –talking 1994 African Footballer of the Year about Nigeria-Brazil clash of October 11, 1987. “But that said, we can’t afford to lose (at the same venue) to Mexico. We must, therefore, be at our best against the Baby El Tri who will be hard pressed to avenge their losses at the
last tournament in the United Arab Emirates.”
Ahead of the game,, Amuneke was honored on Tuesday with an award by the
Chiguayante community in Concepcion. The award, according to the organizers, was in recognition of the Golden Eaglets’ Head Coach’s feat in leading a team to qualify for the FIFA U-17 World Cup Chile 2015.
Meanwhile, Proprietor of Ifeanyi Ubah Football Club, Chief Ifeanyi Ubah, has charged Nigeria’s Golden Eaglets to go all out for victory when they take on Mexico in today’s semi-final match at the ongoing FIFA U-17 World Cup in Chile.
The oil mogul noted that the impressive performance of the Emmanuel Amuneke-tutored lads since the commencement of the tournament is an indication that the team is capable of overcoming their South American counterparts to book a place in the final.
NFF President Amaju Pinnick will be with the Golden Eaglets when they take on Mexico in the FIFA U-17 World Cup semi finals today.
The NFF boss departed on Monday evening, following the Eaglets’ 3-0 thrashing of three –time winners Brazil in the quarter -finals on Sunday.
“I am very excited with the way the team has played so far, raising our country’s flag very high.
The Head Coach has shown tremendous maturity and has managed the team and everything around it brilliantly.
