Head Coach of the Nigeria U-20, Coach Emmanuel Amuneke has finally pruned the number of players in camp to 31 after Saturday’s friendly match with Nigeria National League side, Supreme Court FC. The match ended 1-0 in favour of the Flying Eagles but it also afforded the technical crew an opportunity to further assess the […]
via Amuneke Drops Six More Players From Flying Eagles Camp — newfanzoneblog
NFF President, Amaju Melvin Pinnick, has commended the efforts of the Nigeria U-20 team that crashed out of the FIFA U-20 World Cup in New Zealand on Thursday, insisting the boys were not disgraced.
“When things turn out this way, we look at the positives. Which is why I will call on us all to congratulate this set of players because they certainly made us proud.
“They played with finesse and grace; real potential for the future of our game. The crowd loved them at the two venues where they played, and the unity in the team showed in the way they conducted themselves all through the tournament.”
Pinnick was philosophical about Thursday’s 0-1 defeat by a compact Germany team that saw the Flying Eagles eliminated in Christchurch.
“Football is about winning; but winning has different dimensions. We may not have won today, but we have won a battle to take our desired dream one step further. Our dream being, to not just win matches and trophies, but to develop a sustainable football culture for Nigeria.
“With the adoption of the scheme where our 2013 U-17 World Cup winners were elevated almost en bloc to become our U-20 team, we have seen enough to tell us that this same U-20 group that played and lost today, is good enough to become the future of our football. And we will continue to encourage that the group be kept together and grow together to give us a winning senior squad.
“With encouragement from everyone – the Federation, media and our highly enlightened ball fans – we can inject a few technical aspects to support this group to become the best in the not-too-distant future.”
The NFF boss stated that the Federation’s recent subscription into the latest and best football analysis software, ProZone, underscores the commitment of the new administration to taking Nigeria football to another level.
“Our focus shifts to Canada and the Super Falcons now, and the Super Eagles that begin the race for the 2017 Africa Cup of Nations on Saturday. But I remain in awe and admiration at the efforts of the Flying Eagles’ players and technical crew.”
Nigeria’s Flying Eagles have settled down in Dakar ahead of Sunday’s opening AYC match against hosts Senegal.
The Flying Eagles checked into their four-star Alafifa Hotel in bustling downtown Dakar, not far from the Presidential villa, around 3am local time, which will be 4am Nigerian time Thursday) after a flight that took them from Abuja via Lagos and Banjul, Gambia.
They will train most likely at the match venue by 4.30pm local time later Thursday.
Nigeria leader of delegation Rafiu Yusuf said the traditional arrival meeting with CAF officials earlier fixed for Thursday will now be on Friday.
Weather conditions are favourable, warm in the afternoon and not as cold as it was the early morning when the team touched down in Dakar.
“It’s mildly cold, good weather to play football non-stop,” said midfielder Ifeanyi Ifeanyi.
In the meantime, Flying Eagles opponents on Sunday, Senegal, have been busy preparing for the tournament as they have won their last two warm-up matches against both Zambia and South Africa, who are in Group B.
The host nation won both matches 1-0.
Reports suggest they have revamped the squad now handled by former Teranga Lions of Senegal coach Joseph Koto in the last two weeks.
SAMM AUDU,
Nigeria’s Flying Eagles have to submit a final 21-man squad for the 2015 AYC to CAF by midnight of Thursday, officials have disclosed.
The Nigeria U20 currently have a 28-man provisional squad that includes Belgium-based defender Wilfred Ndidi and Dolphins new signing Christian Pyagbara.
Pyagbara joined the Flying Eagles training camp in Abuja on their return from two warm-up matches in Ghana, while the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) are waiting on Belgian club Genk over the release of Ndidi for the AYC.
In the meantime, the results of the scans on Musa Yahaya and Zaharadeen Bello are expected to be made known in the new week.
Yahaya suffered a knee injury during the Flying Eagles second test match against Ghana in Tema, while Bello is nursing a swollen calf.
The Nigeria U20s are due to fly out for a training tour ahead of the AYC, which kicks off March 8 in Dakar, Senegal.
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