Head coach of the Nigerian U17 national team, Nduka Ugbade, has spoken out about the quality that sets his team apart from others in the 2023 CAF U17 Africa Cup of Nations in Algeria: relentlessness.
At a press conference held at the Mohamed Hamlaoui Stadium in Constantine on Saturday, Ugbade emphasized the importance of his team’s ability to pursue their opponents until the final whistle.
Soccernet.ng reports that the Golden Eaglets want to become the most successful team in the tournament by winning their third title.
However, Ugbade is cautious about the tough group they have been drawn into, which includes Zambia, South Africa, and Morocco.
He believes that making it out of this group will require heart, hard work, and sacrifice, and he will not be surprised if a team from this group makes it to the final.
Despite the challenge ahead, Ugbade remains confident in his team’s ability.
“We are a relentless team, a team that pursues every opponent till the end of the 90 minutes. We are unique in nature in the way we play,” Ugbade stated during the press conference.
The coach’s emphasis on relentlessness is backed up by the Golden Eaglets’ track record in the tournament, having won it twice before and making it to the semi-finals on two other occasions.
The Golden Eaglets’ first target in Algeria is to qualify for the World Cup for the 13th time, which would require them to reach the semi-finals.
This will not be an easy task, but with Ugbade’s leadership and the team’s relentless approach, they will undoubtedly be a force to be reckoned with.
As they take on Zambia in their opening Group B game on April 30th, fans of Nigerian football will be eager to see how the Golden Eaglets’ relentlessness plays out on the pitch.
