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Golden Eaglets head coach, Nduka Ugbade was relieved to see his side make the quarter-finals at the ongoing 2023 Africa U-20 Cup of Nations in Algeria.
The two-time champions defeated the Amajimbos of South Africa 3-2 in their final Group B game on Saturday night.
The victory saw the Golden Eaglets finish second in Group B and earn a place in the quarter-finals.
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“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 after the match.
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.
Nigeria will now await the second placed team from Group C, either Burkina Faslsoqlor Cameroon, in the quarter finals in their quest to quench a 16 year wait for the title and earn a record extending third crown.
5 Comments
someone should tell this coach to learn how to talk to boost the psychology of his young tea.The other day he was afraid of the morrocan team and duly lost thee match.Today he was afraid of 3 south African players.One wonder what he tell his players before a match
Big congratulation to the coach and players. Few observations that I need the team handlers to correct are (1) let the players be taught not to be in a haste to go forward, everyone want to score this easily jettison their formation (2) why do they prefer to go through congested legs, they should not forget their name,eaglet) eaglets fly with wings, this propensity to break through sea of legs make every player to surge forward(3) dealing with set pieces should be looked into.(4) going forward, the rest of the team’s now know we are attacking crazy side who easily forget it’s rear, they may set trap or dummy for us and beat us in a counter.In all coach Nduka should be proud that he is raising a crop of boys who will raise the national team bar std.
Perspnally am cheering for Burkina Faso to win. Cameroon will be a way tougher opposition. Caneroon like Ghana are willing to die on d foeld of play than lose to 9ja regardless of age grade. Not dat cameroon is more skillful but they are as strong as 9ja if not stronger in term of physicality, they are fast as well and can cope with our speed. Unlike SA of cameroon should score 1st then it might be game over as they will defend dat lead like dia lives depend on it. Fingers crossed, hope burkina faso takes it. Its current nil nil on 38mins
Its official, Nigeria vs Burkina Faso. Cameroon are out after losing 2:1 to Burkina Fado. The Burkinabes are a really good side and it won’t be a stroll in d park for the eaglets. The Eaglets have to bring dia A game if they hooe to win dis game. They have a lanky forward dats fast and skillful, eaglets got to be very careful as Burkina Faso are a dangerous side. Thinking dat we won dem in d finals of WAFU B will automatically translate to us beating dem again will be our undoing. However, i still tip the eagkets to carry d day.
The eaglet keeper is really good, I love his calmness, his long range passes are topnotch for that age. He ma be the future of our goal keeping problem. Nff over to you