'No need to panic' - Udeze and Manu Garba back Flying Eagles to bounce back v Egypt

Ifeanyi Udeze and onetime Golden Eaglets head coach, Manu Garba have backed Nigeria's Flying Eagles to bounce back from the 1-0 defeat to Senegal in their opening game of the 2023 CAF U-20 Africa Cup of Nations campaign in Egypt. 
   

The seven-time African champions are hoping to pick one of Africa's four slots to the FIFA U-20 World Cup in Indonesia but Ladan Bosso's team have put themselves in a very difficult position after a disappointing loss to the junior Teranga Lions. 

Speaking to Brila FM, Lagos on Monday on the team's chances of qualifying for the tournament in Indonesia, both expressed belief that Ladan Bosso and his charges can still reach the semifinals of the U-20 AFCON. 

"Defensively they need to improve," Manu Garba, who won the FIFA U-17 World Cup in 2013 with the Golden Eaglets told Brila FM. 

"They are not too bad. Egypt is a strong team and we need to win the next game against the Egyptians. 

"They can still make it. They have two games against Egypt and Mozambique. I have no doubt that should they improve defensively that they can make it," onetime Gombe United head coach, Garba stated. 

Former Super Eagles left back, Udeze who is Brila FM's in-house analyst supported the view of Garba. 

"I agree with Manu Garba. The players are not bad, they are not just playing as a team, that's the problem. 

"They were confused. They are not bad. There's no need to panic. All we need is to calm down. They can still make it," the former West Bromwich Albion star concluded. 

The Eagles will face Egypt in their next game. The hosts were held to a scoreless draw by Mozambique in the opening match of the tournament on Sunday. 

Izuchukwu Michael

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