Inyama wants the technical crew to ensure that the team’s victory in Niamey does not lead to over-confidence
The Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) has charged the U-17 National Team, Golden Eaglets, to keep level heads despite a 4-1 thrashing of their Nigerien counterparts in a 2013 African U-17 Championship qualifying match in Niamey on Saturday.
The Chairman of the Media and Publicity Committee, Emeka Inyama, on Wednesday, said that the technical crew led by Coach Manu Garba has a responsibility to ensure that the victory in Niamey, does not make the boys feel they have “arrived”.
?The NFF has been monitoring the progress of the team and we?re hugely impressed. The win over Niger in Niamey was a solid one and the boys should be delighted with their own output,” Inyama said.
?However, the journey is still far. They have the return leg against Niger to come and will still have to overcome two other teams to qualify for the African finals in Morocco next year.
?The truth is that qualification for the African finals itself will only be a step towards redemption, with the Golden Eaglets having failed to reach the last two African U-17 Championship finals.?
He added that the NFF was happy with the seriousness shown by players and officials, as underscored by the fact that the team resumed training the same day it returned to Calabar from Niamey.
?That is the kind of spirit we want in all our national teams. With such focus and commendable sense of duty, the team will surely go places,” Inyama said.
?Our commitment is to see that the team enjoys every support it needs to qualify for the African Junior Championship and the FIFA U-17 Championship in the UAE, and do Nigeria proud at both tournaments.?
The NFF official also praised the Executive Governor of Cross River State, Senator Liyel Imoke (CON), and his administration for their total support to the team.”
