Taribo West, a former Nigeria defender, has voiced his conviction that the present Nigeria’s National U17s team – the Golden Eaglets, have the potential to reclaim the FIFA U-17 World Cup title in Brazil later this year, Completesports.com reports.
Nigeria is the most successful nation at the FIFA U-17 World Cup level with five titles won in China 1985; Japan 1993; Korea 2007; UAE 2013 and Chile 2015.
Nigeria will be gunning for an incredible sixth title when the 2019 edition gets underway in Brazil from 26th October through 17th November, 2019.
The draw for the Brazil 2019 edition conducted in Zurich, Switzerland, 11th July 2019 put The Manu Garba’s charges in Group B
Hungary, who are making a return to the championship after 34 years, following their first appearance in the 1985 inaugural edition in China, Ecuador and Australia are the Golden Eaglets Group B opponents for the Brazil 2019 showpiece.
Taribo, 45, strongly believes that the current squad can make it a sixth title haul for Nigeria in Brazil.
“The team is physically fit,” Taribo, a member of the famous U23 Dream Team that won gold medal at the Atlanta 1996 Olympic Games said after watching the team train in Abuja.
“And I saw a remarkable level of coordination among the players. Their connectivity is very outstanding.
“If they can keep their heads low and remember while on the pitch to apply the instructions of their coaches at every game in Brazil, then, I am sure the team can bring the FIFA Under 17 trophy back to Nigeria”, the former Inter Milan and AC Milan of Italy defender said.
Taribo m paid an unscheduled visit to the Golden Eaglets’ training camp at the FIFA Goal Project, MKO Abiola Stadium, Abuja.
He reiterates that what he has seen of the team has indeed convinced him that a new generation of great players is about to emerge.
“I saw a very bright future generation of Nigerian players. I am very impressed and a couple of them are also in the NFF Under 15 team. These are fantastic players without any doubt and I believe that Nigeria in the future will be able to reproduce the likes of Daniel Amokachi, Kanu Nwankwo , Austin Okocha and the rest of us,” Taribo who is now a pastor added.
“So, this team has a great future and I can bet on the team. The players are very strong physically. The team just need some trial matches, take them abroad to expose them and the players will do the needful.”
By Sab Osuji
11 Comments
Lie Mr taribo this team can not make it to second round
Wisdom Ugbani aka CR7 golden eaglet is still the team to beat regardless of their shambolic show at the afcon
I love that lad Wisdom Ubani,he is very explosive like Sadio Mane.I’m looking forward to seeing him play in Brazil next month,that lad is sick!
If it is the same boys that played under 17 nations cup recently, Nigerian should forget about the competition.
Even those boys in the nations cup were very talented. I saw alot of potentials in the team unlike the U20s. At that level you cannot use lack of trophies to judge them as they are still immature. But i see a bright future there.
It’s a pity some people have given up on the young lads even when they’re yet to kick a ball at the world cup.
Let’s cast our minds back to the team that won in 2015. With Nwakali, Osihmen, Chukwueze et al they came fourth at the U17 AFCON and like this current team, picked the last ticket. Yet they went ahead to win the world cup.
Let the coaches do their job on these lads while we hope for the best. Even if they do not win, I am of the opinion that they will do us proud and add more world class talent to our pool of footballers.
Only 4 out of that team that went to U-17 AFcon look a real deal: Amoo, Ubani, that No, 3 can’t remember his name, n Tijani d captain. The rest, I m afraid may just end up same way as previous eaglets, after winning the Cup. I LL be happy for them to prove me wrong.
My brother forget they can’t prove anything to you,dey will only play 3 games and go home
I do not see that happening.At this level we struggle in Africa but excel at the world stage.We have the likes of Olusegun,Amoo,Ubani and the captain.This players listed above have immense quality beyond their age.With good additions to the team I won’t be surprise they get to the later stages of the competition.
There is talent in the team,we just can’t win every competition but when you see talent we need to be honest admit it and not get too emotional about trophies we have won like play.
Those old wigs.. I bet it they can’t withstand the present technicality of their counterparts.. Even the is not happy that him and nff favoured players are overage and MRI scan will weed them out