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NFF
President Pinnick, GS Sanusi and Super Eagles’ Technical Adviser Gernot Rohr
pose with the players and officials of the Flying Eagles in Germany on
Thursday.
Football
Nigeria’s
U20 boys, Flying Eagles have landed in Poland for this year’s FIFA U20 World
Cup after rounding off a three –week residential training at Bad Gogging on the
outskirts of Munich, Germany on Saturday.
The
team flew out Germany via Munich on Sunday morning for the final leg of
preparation for the 2019 FIFA U20 World Cup that starts on 23rd May.
While
in Bad Grogging, the team played four friendly games (a 3-3 draw with Freiburg
U19s; a 1-2 loss to Saudi Arabia U20s; a 3-1 win over AFR Aelen and; a 1-1 draw
with Red Bull Salzburg) as they seek to win the FIFA U20 World Cup for the
first time.
Two
–time runners at the competition, in 1989 and 2005, Nigeria took the bronze
medals at the 1985 finals staged in the former Soviet Union.
Team
captain Ikouwem Udoh Utin told thenff.com that the camping exercise in Germany
has helped the team blend very well.
“Our
time in Germany has really helped us to come together as a group, blend with
one another as well as learn new things from our coaches," Utin enthused.
“It
has been a wonderful experience here in camp. The boys now understand one
another better and we have perfected our plans as we go into the tournament. We
want to make Nigeria proud in Poland and we will do our best not to disappoint
Nigerians. Our aim is to go all out and win the trophy for Nigeria. We also
want to thank the NFF and Nigerians for their support and we will go there and
represent Nigeria well."
IK
Sirius of Sweden striker Henry Offia is also optimistic that the team will go
far in Poland 2019 and the lessons learned in camp will go a long way to help
actualise this aim.
"I'm
really happy and grateful to be part of this team. This is my first time with
any of the national teams and I'll do my best not to disappoint," Offia
stated, adding: "We've had a good time in camp, learned a lot from the
coaches and hopefully we put all into practice in Poland. It will be a tough
competition no doubt but we are determined to go out there and make Nigeria
proud. I'm grateful for this opportunity and I'll make best use of it."
17
–year old goalkeeper Jonathan Zacalla, who is also one of the new faces in the
team believes this team will give their best in Poland. Zacalla, who plays for
Triestina in Italy also told theff.com that the camping exercise has helped
develop his game which hopefully will translate to a good outing in Poland.
"The
camping exercise was tough but I enjoyed every bit of it. It was a good
experience for me and the other players," he revealed. "I'm hopeful
of a good outing in Poland and will continue to work hard to make it happen.
Our coaches have done a lot in training and I hope we can use that to good
effect when the U20 competition starts."
The
team was boosted by a visit to the camp on Thursday by President of Nigeria
Football Federation, Mr. Amaju Melvin Pinnick, NFF General Secretary, Dr.
Mohammed Sanusi and Super Eagles’ Technical Adviser, Gernot Rohr.
Nigeria
will start her FIFA U20 World Cup campaign on 24th May against Group D foes
Qatar before other duels against USA and Ukraine.
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1 comments:
That is really nice to hear. thank you for the update and good luck. sport new
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