Nduka Ugbade Plays Down Favourite Tag

Nigeria Under 20 National Team Assistant Coach, Nduka Ugbade, has refused to accept that the Flying Eagles are the favourite team to qualify for the final of the African Youth Championship ahead of Ghana, their opponents on Wednesday evening.

Analyzing the semi - final clash against the Ghana Under 20s, the retired Nigeria international stressed that any of the four remaining teams can win the tournament.

“We are not favourites. If Ghana can get to this stage and Senegal as hosts can also qualify, then any team is capable of winning the competition,” said Nduka Ugbade.

“Each time we face an opponent, we respect the team and try to control our emotions.”

Before the start of the African Youth Championship, the Flying Eagles played two friendly games against the Black Satellites, winning one and drawing the other.

But this time around, Ugbade reckons that the team that is more motivated, in psychological terms, will come out on top.

“Matches between the two teams since I was young have always been difficult and this will be no exception.

“We have an idea of the Ghana team having played them in two friendly matches.

“We are talking of a competition of this magnitude and surely it will be different from the friendly.

 “We are a tactically astute and a very strong side. We are matured and will try to find solutions before the end of the 90 minutes.

“However, the team that is psychologically stronger might carry the day,” Nduka Ugbade concluded.

Photo Credit : thenff.com