Golden Eaglets Likened To Senegal By Dutch Coach; Netherlands Squad Labelled Arrogant

Published: November 05, 2019

Five-time world champions Nigeria will do battle with Netherlands in the round of 16 at the 2019 FIFA U17 World Cup on Wednesday morning.

The back-to-back European champions booked their spot in the knockout stage after thrashing United States 4-0, finishing as one of the four best third-placed teams from the six groups.

The Oranje lost 3-1 to African opposition, Senegal in the group stage and manager Peter van der Veen has likened Nigeria to the Senegalese team.

In quotes carried by De Telegraaf via Voetbal Zone, Peter van der Veen said : ''Nigeria is a bit of the same kind of team, with a lot of power and of a good level, so we can prepare ourselves''.

Meanwhile AZ central midfielder Mohamed Taabouni has disputed the criticism that the Netherlands U17 players are arrogant after they openly stated that they wanted to become world champions before the start of the tournament in Brazil.

He told NOS : ''Yes, I have read some. But we are not arrogant, we just have a lot of confidence, are driven and motivated. Maybe afterwards it was not so useful to pronounce it so convincingly. But that is also a lesson''.

Manu Garba's side will face the the European giants at the Estádio Olímpico, Goiânia with the winner advancing to the quarterfinal against either Argentina or Paraguay.

Igho Kingsley

Photo Credit : fifa.com