'Anything can happen' - Ugbade plays down Golden Eaglets chances ahead of U17 AFCON opener

Speaking at the mandatory pre-match press conference ahead of Nigeria's opening match of the 2023 Africa U17 Cup of Nations against Zambia, head coach Nduka Ugbade has played down the Golden Eaglets chances of winning the competition. 

Though the 1985 FIFA U16 World Championship-winning captain has played down Nigeria's chances, it would be a big embarrassment if they don't qualify for the 2023 FIFA U17 World Cup given their pedigree at U17 level.

When it comes to the FIFA U17 World Cup, Nigeria are the most successful nation with five trophies won. 

The Golden Eaglets are the joint most successful team at the U17 AFCON with two titles won, along with Cameroon, Gambia, Mali and Ghana. 

Ugbade's main target in Algeria is for the Golden Eaglets to qualify for the 2023 FIFA U17 World Cup, before thinking of going a step further by winning the AFCON. 

"Nigeria is a very strong team like I told you because we build a lot of capacity to meet up the demand that is placed upon us when we go for the competitions," Ugbade told reporters. 

"The issue here is that Zambia is as well a wonderful nation. Morocco, Cameroon, Algeria - all these countries in the competition are very good. Even the one that we don't think that will qualify, Somalia have done so well. 

"So I have the mind that Nigeria, I'm not going to tell you that we are going to go all the way because it's difficult to say this.

"Anything can happen and before you know it the end comes for Nigeria. The thing is that we are going to stand on our feet and do the best that we can, and see how we are able to go and how far we can."

The top four teams of the U17 AFCON  will qualify for the 2023 FIFA U17 World Cup as Africa's representatives.

Ifeanyi Emmanuel 

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