Ahead of the Golden Eaglets opener against defending champions Mexico at the Fifa Under 17 World Cup, coach of the side Manu Garba has stated that his charges will play total football.

Total Football, popularized by former Holland manager Rinus Michels, is a football system where all the players minus the goalkeeper are comfortable in any position.

Manu Garba told fifa.com: “I give my players a special freedom, a freedom to express themselves.

“When we have the ball, we all attack. When we don’t, we all defend.

“Take a chance; go forward, another man will cover you. All my players have the freedom to go anywhere, and it’s a responsibility they understand.

“Think Barcelona, think Spain, think entertaining, think passion and possibility.”

 Nigeria, three time winners of the World Cup for players below the age of 17 years, are in Group F of the competition alongside Mexico, Sweden and Iraq.