Eaglets: We’re battle ready

To qualify for today’s finals, the Eaglets who are the defending champions went past Spain who are last edition’s runners up by 3-1 to set up the final showdown with debutants Switzerland who had defeated Colombia 4-0 in the first semi-final match at the Teslim Balogun Stadium Lagos. Although they started the championship on a […]

To qualify for today’s finals, the Eaglets who are the defending champions went past Spain who are last edition’s runners up by 3-1 to set up the final showdown with debutants Switzerland who had defeated Colombia 4-0 in the first semi-final match at the Teslim Balogun Stadium Lagos.

Although they started the championship on a shaky note when they had to come back from the dead to draw 3-3 with European Champions, Germany in the opening match, Eaglets have not left anyone in doubt on their readiness to win the coveted trophy.

Victories over formidable opponents like Argentina, Korea and Spain has done much to restored the team’s confidence and the players have unanimously restated their readiness to win today’s match to reward their fans who have given them so much support.

Speaking exclusively to Trustsport yesterday in Abuja, some key

members of the team led by Captain Chukwudi Fortune said they are battle ready and nothing will stop them from lifting the trophy today.

The Captain of the team said they will not settle for anything less than the coveted trophy as each and every member of the team is eager to make a name for himself.

“Our expectation in the finals is nothing less than victory. This has been our desire from the beginning of the championship and we have not changed”.

He said that they will approach today’s match with all seriousness because any team that has reached the finals of such a major championship can not be a push over.

“From the very beginning of this tournament, we have been approaching every match with seriousness knowing fully well that any country that qualifies for the finals must have a good team. I know it is going to be tough match but I am sure we are going to come out victorious”.

Fortune said the only language every member of the team understands is victory and today’s match will not prove to be different.

Sani Emmanuel Shehu who has earned for himself the title of ‘super –sub’ said he will continue with his goal scoring in today’s match.

He said if called upon to play, nothing will stop him from putting his name on the scorers list just as he maintained that God who has brought them this far will not desert them at the crucial moment.

It is God that has been giving us the victories and he will be with us as we take on our opponents tomorrow ( today). It will be a difficult match but like I said, God will give us the day”.

Emmanuel said he is very comfortable with his role as a substitute because it is in line with the coaches game plan and so far it has worked effectively to the advantage of his team.

Scorer of one of the goals that sent Korea packing from the championship, Terry Envoh also expressed the team’s readiness to win tomorrow’s match.

He said they have resolved to win to show appreciation to their coaches and Nigerian football fans who have given them tremendous support.

By the grace of God, victory is ours. We are going to fight from the blast of the whistle to the end. I hope to score because that is what is expected of me as a striker. Our match against Korea is my best because I scored one of the goals that gave us victory. Even when I was not scoring, coach Abimbola kept on urging me and I scored eventually.

Envoh said victory today is a must for them because God has been with the team.

Diminutive mid-fielder Ramon Azeez is not less enthusiastic as he said they are battle ready.

“ We are ready for tomorrow’s ( today) match. Our morale is high and we would not let down our teeming supporters. All we need from Nigerians is their prayers”.

He maintained that if fielded today, he would do his best to score just the way he did against the Koreans.

I want to crown my performance with another goal. We would give Nigerians cause to celebrate at the end of the full ninety minutes.

The team’s goalkeeper trainer, Suleiman Shaibu said today’s match will bring out the best in Dami Paul, the petit goalkeeper who has given a good account of himself in the tournament.

He said even if today’s match stretches into penalty shoot out, Nigerians should be rest assured that goalkeeper will live up to their expectations.

We don’t hope to end the match on penalty shoot out but if that happens, there will be no problem because Paul is good at stopping penalty kicks. I always draw from my experience as a former international to give him the confidence he needs to excel.

“When we were on the playing tour of Gambia and a penalty was awarded against us in one of the matches, I walked up to him and told him what to do and he saved the kick”.

Coach Shaibu maintained that the Eaglets will not disappoint their vociferous supporters today at the Abuja National Stadium.