Calabar – Nigeria’s under-17 team, the Golden Eaglets, will go for victory when they confront their Gabonese counterparts on Saturday, the head coach of the team, Emmanuel Amuneke, has said.Speaking with newsmen in Calabar on Friday shortly before departing with the team to Gabon, Amuneke said the first leg, final round of the 2015 African U-17 Championship to be hosted in Niger was a must-win for the team.
Amuneke, who was the 1994 African Footballer of the Year, said: “We have come this far on this assignment and we are going to press for a win in Gabon on Saturday.
“The boys have really worked hard in the past few days and they are quite aware of the importance of this match.
‘’We want to qualify for the championship in Niger and a win this weekend will really help us.
“We have selected 18 good players for this match and we are confident they will deliver the goods. By the grace of God, we shall come victorious in Gabon.”
The team’s Media Officer, Morakinyo Abodunrin, said the team comprising of 18 players and some officials, would travel by road to Cotonou to join a flight to Gabon.
“The African Football Confederation had to intervene before the players were issued visas on Wednesday and are ready for the expected tough assignment in Libreville.
“Coach Amuneke is expected to field his battle-hardened lads with the pair of Victor Osimhen and Kehinde Ayinde to lead the attack in a 4-4-2 formation.
“Skipper Kelechi Nwakali will roam in the midfield along with Suleiman Abdullahi, Ernest Agenor and Promise Orji.
“The quartet of Usman Abass, Lukman Halilu, Deji Bamidele and Anas Muhammed would feature in the rear. Petit goalkeeper, Ebuka Nwokoecha, may start ahead of Amos Benjamin.
“Udoh Akpan, who was on duty in both legs against Congo Democratic Republic in previous round is not available,’’ Abodunrin said.
The match is slated for the Stade Augustin Monedan de Sibang in Libreville with the kick off fixed for 3:30 p.m. local time (same as Nigerian time).
The second leg is due in a fortnight with the overall winner earning a ticket to the eight-team tournament to hold from Feb. 15 to March 1.
The semi-finalists in the tournament will represent the continent at the 2015 FIFA U-17 World Cup in Chile.