Ex-Arsenal Striker Kanu : We Were Under Pressure To Win The World Cup

Speaking ahead of the Fifa U17 World Cup draw, former Arsenal star Nwankwo Kanu has admitted that the Golden Eaglets were under pressure to win the 1993 FIFA U-17 World Cup hosted by Japan.

Kanu became a hot commodity after the tournament in Japan after his five goals, including a hat-trick against Canada, helped Nigeria win the World Cup for the second time in their history, and earned himself a move to Dutch powerhouse Ajax Amsterdam.

''That World Cup made me. Being at the World Cup knowing that they had been doing well, it was a big challenge for the young ones to follow in the footsteps of the ones who have been here and won it (in 1985).

''There was a little bit of pressure on us to come in and do well.

''When we arrived and saw the atmosphere, how everybody was buzzing, we believed that we could do well.''

Despite the Golden Eaglets failing to qualify for the 2017 Fifa U17s in India, there's still Nigerian interest, with Tottenham Hotspur young defender Timothy Eyoma expected to turn out for England U17s.

The Young Lions have been drawn against Mexico, Iraq, and Chile in Group F.

Igho Kingsley