The 2015 U20 World Cup will begin later this month in New Zealand, and coach of the Flying Eagles
first group opponents Brazil’s Alexandre Gallo has
expressed apprehension about the ability of the Flying Eagles.
“Nigeria always cause us
problems. They’re a strong team, technically good with good players.” he said.
Brazil’s U20 national team
are among the teams tipped to win the tournament in New Zealand. However the Flying Eagles will be parading
what will be arguably their best squad for a decade.
The nucleus of Manu Garba’s side is drawn from the
successful Golden Eaglet side that won the U17 World Cup in the United Arabs
Emirates in 2013. The side is expected to be led once again by Taiwo Awoniyi,
Kelechi Iheanacho and captain of the side, Musa Mohammed. The team is currently
camping in Germany
as part of their preparation.
While Brazil have won the U20 World Cup five times, the last
of which was in 2011 when an Oscar inspired Brazil scored a hat-trick in the
finals against Portugal to win 3-2, while the Flying Eagles have made the
finals of the tournament on two occasions, losing to Portugal 2-0 in the 1989
finals in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. While a side comprising Jon Mikel Obi, Taye
Taiwo, Isaac Promise, Ambrose Vansekin, Chinedu Ogbuke, Sanni Kieta, Monday
James and Onyekachi Apam lost to a Lionel Messi inspired Argentina 2-1 in
Utrecht, Holland in 2005
Apart from Brazil,
the Flying Eagles will also face Hungary and Korea DPR in Group E.
The tournament runs from May 30 to June 20. Manu Garba is
expected to release the list of 21 players that will fly out to New Zealand on May 23 from their training camp
in Germany where they are
expected to play three tune up matches against the youth teams of Hoffenheim,
Freiburg and Nurnberg.
Photo Credit: google/completesportsnigeria
