PANAPRESS
Panafrican News Agency
FIFA U-20 World Cup: We want to top group D - Nigeria's coach
Armenia, Colombia (PANA) - Nigeria's head coach John Obuh has said his team will approach its last group D game against Saudi Arabia on Saturday with seriousness, in order to win and top the group, which will allow the team to stay back in Armenia,
one of the venues for the ongoing FIFA Under-20 World Cup in Colombia.
''Against Saudi Arabia, we will do everything to win,'' Obuh told journalists here Thursday. ''We want to stay put in Armenia, which has proved to be a good hunting ground for us.''
Nigeria and Saudi Arabia have won two matches apiece - both in Armenia - and advanced to the round of 16.
Both teams are high-scoring sides, with Nigeria scoring 10 goals in two matches and Saudi Arabia eight so far.
Sports observers here said the clash between the two teams will be very touch, but coach Obuh seems sure his team will prevail.
''We will know the better team when we clash on Saturday,'' he boasted.
Meanwhile, the substitute Flying Eagles' player who scored two of Nigeria's goals in its 5-2 victory over Croatia Wednesday has expressed his personal satisfaction with the outcome of the match.
''I am happy to have come off the bench to score two goals. Our tactics helped us to beat Croatia and now we have to step up our game and make sure we beat Saudi Arabia on Saturday to finish top of our group,'' said Uche Nwofor.
In a related development, there are fears that Nigeria's central defender Ganiu Ogungbe may miss Saturday's match due to the ankle injury he suffered in the match against Croatia.
''We will know how serious the injury is and whether the player will be available for selection only after further tests on Thursday,'' said team doctor Ozi Salami Jnr.
The player was forced to abandon the match after a hard tackle from behind during the match against Croatia.
-0- PANA SA/SEG 4Aug2011
one of the venues for the ongoing FIFA Under-20 World Cup in Colombia.
''Against Saudi Arabia, we will do everything to win,'' Obuh told journalists here Thursday. ''We want to stay put in Armenia, which has proved to be a good hunting ground for us.''
Nigeria and Saudi Arabia have won two matches apiece - both in Armenia - and advanced to the round of 16.
Both teams are high-scoring sides, with Nigeria scoring 10 goals in two matches and Saudi Arabia eight so far.
Sports observers here said the clash between the two teams will be very touch, but coach Obuh seems sure his team will prevail.
''We will know the better team when we clash on Saturday,'' he boasted.
Meanwhile, the substitute Flying Eagles' player who scored two of Nigeria's goals in its 5-2 victory over Croatia Wednesday has expressed his personal satisfaction with the outcome of the match.
''I am happy to have come off the bench to score two goals. Our tactics helped us to beat Croatia and now we have to step up our game and make sure we beat Saudi Arabia on Saturday to finish top of our group,'' said Uche Nwofor.
In a related development, there are fears that Nigeria's central defender Ganiu Ogungbe may miss Saturday's match due to the ankle injury he suffered in the match against Croatia.
''We will know how serious the injury is and whether the player will be available for selection only after further tests on Thursday,'' said team doctor Ozi Salami Jnr.
The player was forced to abandon the match after a hard tackle from behind during the match against Croatia.
-0- PANA SA/SEG 4Aug2011
