Nigeria’s Flying Eagles will look to secure a place in the second round at the FIFA U20 World Cup in Poland when they take on the United States of America today (Monday) at the Bielsko Biala Stadium, reports Completesports.com.
The Flying Eagles started their campaign on a winning note thrashing Qatar 4-0 on Friday with Maxwell Effiom, Henry Offia, Ayotomiwa Dele-Bashiru and Aliu Salawudeen getting the goals.
A win against the Americans who fell 2-1 to Ukraine in their first game will see the West Africans seal a spot in round of 16.
Head coach of the side, Paul Aigbogun stated that the team is firmly focused on claiming three points in the game.
“We had a great game against Qatar and we want to stay in that spirit all through the championship. We will not make the mistake of under-rating any team; our approach remains taking it one game at a time. We go in there and fulfill our gameplan of achieving victory,”Aigbogun told nff . com.
“It is not going to be an easy match; the Americans are hurt after losing their first game. But we are in good form and we need the three points to assure our place in the Round of 16,” Aigbogun said on Sunday.
Both countries first met at this level in the semi finals of the 1989 edition in Saudi Arabia, with a high –spirited Nigeria side just coming from a miraculous triumph over old Soviet Union in the quarter finals. The Flying Eagles had come from a 0-4 deficit with 15 minutes left on the clock, to tie the encounter with the Soviets in Dammam and went ahead to win on penalties.
On 28th February 1989, goals by Mutiu Adepoju sealed a 2-1 win over USA at the Prince Abdullah Al-Faisal Stadium in Jeddah to send Nigeria into her first –ever Final match of the FIFA U20 World Cup.
Ukraine and Qatar will clash in the other Group D encounter at the Tychy Stadium also on Monday.
By Adeboye Amosu
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COMMENTS
Nigeria keeper & defenders must be at alert throughout the match.
What i realised after the first match is offensively the left back if good but defensively hes a suspect and must watch it because a team with fast wingers can exploit him during a counter attack. In the Attack Henry has been consistent from the preparatory games until now but i dont know if it has anything to do with age but he should keep it up. Dele Bashiru is good but he needs to stamp more authority by releasing killer and swift passings for free flowing football rather than holding up the ball and playing to gallery.
With the United States never say die attitude we have a real test and this game will tell how far we will go in the competition. Best of wishes and as a critic due to camp whisper of age and bribe talk i hope to be silenced Amen. My jokers for today are Henry Offia and Makanjuola coming from bench.