Nwosu, Others Charge Flying Eagles

Former head coach of Nigeria’s U-17 side, the Golden Eaglets, Henry Nwosu, ex international Garba Lawal and captain of Eaglet side to China ‘85, Uduka Ugbade, have all charged the Flying Eagles to make the country proud and bring the elusive FIFA U-20 World Cup trophy to Nigeria.

Nwosu, who was a product of the U-20 championship, said that the John Obuh-led side should not be written off because of their dismal performance at the Four-Nation Tournament in Panama, saying that he still believes the team can go all the way and put things right in the tourney.

“I’m not writing them off yet because I know with the calibres of players in the team they will bring smiles to our faces and make us forget all these insurgencies of Boko Haram and kidnappers all over the country.

“I don’t want people to judge the team with their recent performance in Panama tourney, which was meant to serve as tune up matches. I think it is better for them to lose at the pre-tourney than to get to the main event and get bundled out at the early stage of the championship,” he said.

The former Super Eagles’midfielder, Garba Lawal wants Nigerians to be patient with the Flying Eagles, saying that it is unfair to write them off now.

“We are always in a hurry to condemn our teams even when the tournament has not started. I will advise Nigeria to be patient with the boys when the matches start because it always takes time before a team pick up in a tourney of this magnitude.

“If they draw or lose their first game, God forbids, we should not write them off and start blaming the team’s handlers. I am sure as the tourney progresses they will rise to the occasion,” the former Andelecth of Belgium star said.

Ugbade believes the Flying Eagles have no excuse not to do well at the tourney, considering the time they spent in camp perfecting strategies for the tournament.

“I can tell you they are condemn to do well because Nigerians don’t expect anything short of good outing from the team, not only good performance but they should bring the trophy that Ghana won two years ago to this country,” he said.

—Bamidele Olowosagba