GK Stephen Urges Golden Eaglets Teammates To Play As A Team Ahead Of World Cup Opener

Published: October 25, 2019

One of the hot topics for discussion in the days leading up to Nigeria's World Cup opener against Hungary is the starting goalkeeper for the Golden Eaglets.

Defence was Nigeria's Achilles' heel during the zonal qualifiers held in Niger last year and things went from bad to worse at the U17 Africa Cup of Nations when the Manu Garba led side conceded four goals in one game vs Tanzania.

In the Golden Eaglets last match at the UEFA ASSIST Tournament in Turkey, they let in four goals and conceded five in three games in their friendly matches in Brazil.

Looking for a quick fix, Manu Garba has brought in the experienced West Ham goalkeeper Daniel Jinadu to bolster the squad and he is battling Football College Abuja's Sunday Stephen and Joseph Oluwabusola for a starting shirt.

Stephen is looking forward to the Golden Eaglets' first Group B match against Hungary at the Estádio Olímpico, Goiânia and reckons that they will pick up all three points so long as they play as a team.

''The game will be interesting on Saturday, we hope to win if we play like a team. We play from the defence, we coordinate ourselves together down to the midfield,'' said Stephen who has been handed the number one jersey.

''We attack, pass the ball together, we score together. We hope to beat Hungary on Saturday.''

Ifeanyi Emmanuel