Ifeanyi Eduzor
As the Golden Eaglets continue their impressive run in the ongoing FIFA U-17 World Cup in Brazil, former Super Eagles defender, Godwin Okpara, has advised the team to remain focused and aim at winning the trophy a record six times.
The Coach Manu Garba-led side in their first Group B match of the competition defeated Hungary 4-2 before coming from 1-2 down to record a 3-2 defeat over Ecuador with Ibrahim Said scoring the first hat-trick of the FIFA U-17 World Cup in Brazil to enable Nigeria qualify for the Round of 16. Okpara believes that the team must remain focused in order to go far in the junior World Cup.
In an interview with The Nigerian Xpress Sport, he stated that the team having started well must maintain the momentum and not over celebrate the early victories but rather improve with each game because the competition is just starting.
“I’m happy that the Golden Eaglets started their campaign on a clean slate and must be encouraged by all Nigerians to enable them go far in the tournament and even win the trophy a record six times,” began the one time PSG of France and Standard Liege of Belgium defence marshal.
“ It’s equally important I acknowledge the fighting spirit of the boys which made it possible for the victory over Ecuador and I want them to maintain it as they progress in the second round of the championship.”
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Okpara, a member of the Super Eagles team to France 1998 World Cup, however expressed concern over the team’s defence which he believes is suspect and contributed to it conceding four goals in two matches with advise to the technical crew to correct the lapses discovered in that department.
“My concern right now is the defence of the Golden Eaglets. With what I observed in their first two games, the defence of the team is not too solid and this has led to the number of goals they conceded.
“There is need for the coaching crew to do something about it because they are going to face stronger opponents as the tournament progresses and might not have the opportunity to cancel out early goals scored by such opponents,” concluded Okpara, who played a pivotal role in the Super Eagles campaign at the 2000 Africa Cup of Nations and that year’s Sumner Olympics respectively.
