Eaglets have work to do - Ex-Nigeria Keeper

  Emmanuel Amuneke
Former Golden Eaglets goalkeeper Andrew Aikhuomogbe insists Nigeria have a lot of work to do if their target at the Chile 2015 FIFA Under-17 World Cup is to win the title for the fifth-time.

The Eaglets off to a winning start at Chile 2015 on Saturday with a 2-0 defeat of USA – after Chukwudi Agor hit the back of the net in the 50th minute and Victor Osimhen 11 minutes later.

Although Aikhuomogbe is happy with the outcome of the encounter, the former Super Eagles keeper, who helped Nigeria reach the quarterfinals of the Scotland ’89 FIFA Under-17 World Cup, says the Eaglets may struggle to defend their UAE 2013 title. Nigeria beat Mexico 3-0 in the final in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates on November 8, 2013 to win the FIFA Under-17 World Cup for the fourth-time, having won the title in 1985, 1993 and 2007.


“We have good players in the team but they lack teamwork,” the former Shooting Stars custodian told our correspondent on the telephone from his base in Egypt on Sunday.

“The Eaglets must play as a team if they want to win the title. Some of the players are playing individual game. This is not good for the team. They have a lot of work to do.

“(Nigeria coach) Emmanuel Amuneke should tell the players to play as a team. They can win the title if they can change and play together.

“I think they will improve in their next game (against Chile on Tuesday).”

Meanwhile, Amuneke has praised his side after their first victory   in the tournament.

The 1994 African Footballer of the Year admitted he was relieved as the Eaglets produced a powerful second-half performance to claim victory at Estadio Nacional Julio Martínez Prádanos in Santiago.

“Considering it was the first match, I think it was a good game,” FIFA.com quoted the former Bracelona winger as saying on Sunday.

“At the beginning it was pretty even, everything very tactical, neither of us wanted to make a mistake. At half time I told my players to believe in themselves, and it worked, because we were more precise. Besides the three points, which are very important, I also liked that we kept our heads even when we could not get things going.”

USA coach Richie Williams said his team lost to a “good side”.

He said, “We are obviously disappointed because of the outcome. We played a good first half, we were balanced, solid and we even created some chance that we were not able to convert. Nigeria scored two quick goals, but thank to unfortunate errors on our side. We were hoping to be more effective, but we lost against a good Nigerian team.”