U17 AFCON : Every word Golden Eaglets coach said on Morocco, South Africa, Zambia; Group A and C

The draw for the TotalEnergies U-17 Africa Cup of Nations in Algeria later this year was conducted in Algiers on Wednesday, February 1.

 

Five-time world champions Nigeria were placed in Group B, alongside Morocco, South Africa and Zambia.

 

Hosts Algeria will take on Senegal, Congo and Somalia in Group A, while Cameroon, Mali, Burkina Faso and South Sudan are the countries in Group C.

Four slots to the 2023 FIFA U17 World Cup in Peru from November 10 to December 2 are at stake with players born on or after January 1, 2006 the only ones eligible.

 

Nigeria will open group play against Zambia on April 30, followed by matches against Morocco and South Africa on May 3 and May 6 respectively at Chahid Hamlaoui in Constantine

 

Reacting to the U17 AFCON draw, 1985 world champion at U16 level, Nduka Ugbade shared his thoughts on the Golden Eaglets' opponents in Group B, how he plans to achieve his goal of qualifying for the World Cup, and the countries in Group A and Group C. 

 

Here's the full transcript. 

 

Coach Nduka Ugbade the draw for the AFCON U17 tournament in Algeria has just been made and Nigeria is in Group B where the Golden Eaglets will play South Africa, Zambia and Morocco. For you what do you make of these teams in Group B?

"It's quite interesting that it is like this now. Why? Because the die has been cast and there is no going back. Morocco is a team that is known from North Africa and the North African football is known to me very, very well, and considering  what they've just done in the World Cup that we all in Africa are proud of,

 

"I think the 17s will be clearly motivated to this as well. In the recent times they've been playing some friendly matches as well in preparation for this competition.

 

"Then again the issue of South African football that has suddenly exploded into a very beautiful footballing nation. That one too is something that is supposed to get us to be worried a bit.

 

"Zambia that we've always known for good football. These three nations are from the high altitude so they will have enough strength, enough speed, enough endurance as well and power to compete but knowing that we've won the World Cup five times and that we are favorites for the competition as a whole, we are not looking at our group alone. 

 

"Inasmuch as the first thing we have to try to conquer is our first match. Win the first match, win the second match, most probably win the third match and qualify for the next stage, the quarterfinals, and win that as well and go further as well to establishing some kind of authority in the semifinals and see if we get to the final what will happen. 

 

"But we know that if we win the fourth match beyond the group, after our three group matches, if we win the fourth one surely we've gotten to the semifinals, then we've qualified for the World Cup.

 

"It will be very, very interesting to know that the likes of Algeria, Senegal, Congo, Somalia in Group A they are all there as well then in Group C Cameroon, Mali, Burkina Faso and South Sudan.

 

"The issue of Mali and Burkina Faso with Cameroon can not stay off our memories as a nation as these nations are very strong like you known in our WAFCON we met Burkina Faso in the final and again we are not going to remove Congo, DR Congo as well. All those Congos are strong footballing nations that love to dance a lot Makossa and all that but we'll be competing against them as well.

"Somalia as well suddenly have come off the block getting to the U17 Cup of Nations. Totori it will be an interesting topic to at least try to listen to and talk about hosts Algeria and Senegal that just performed so well in the World Cup. They are in the U17 competition as well. 

"We will not be participating, we will be competing and in our competitiveness  we will join the contenders because we are already a strong nation that is known to have won the trophy on several occasions.

"I don't think that this will be the difference. Like I said to you before if you are going to a competition like this, if you do not have fear, then you are not prepared. We have fear but not that will cripple us. It is that that will create an unbelievable performance when we have the opportunity to face any of the teams in the competition so this is just my little view concerning our Group B, Morocco, South Africa and Zambia with Nigeria will be competing at the highest level with their performance. "

 

 

Ifeanyi Emmanuel 

 

 

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