Chairman of the NFF Technical and Development Committee, Chief Felix Anyansi-Agwu believes the Flying Eagles will triumph over Germany in their FIFA U-20 World Cup Round of 16 clash in Christchurch on Thursday, because the Nigerians have a good idea of how the Germans will play.

“The Flying Eagles know what to expect when they go in there against the Germans. Apart from having watched tapes of the German team in action in the group phase, our boys had their final training camp in Germany and played friendly matches against German teams, winning all three games.

“I am not in any way saying that the match will be easy. It is going to be tough, very tough. But I believe that knowing what to expect, the Flying Eagles’ technical crew and players will perfect their plans on how to get the better of the European champions.”

During their final training camp in Nurnberg, Manu Garba’s wards thumped FC Nurnberg’s second team 5-0, drilled Hoffenheim’s second team 5-2 and walloped Freiburg FC’s second team 4-1.

The Germans put away 16 goals in their three group phase matches, bagging the maximum nine points to top Group F. They also have the advantage of having played all their previous matches at the Christchurch Stadium – which hosted the 1974 Commonwealth Games. Nigeria played all their group phase matches in New Plymouth.

While the Germans pounded Fiji 8-1, brushed aside Uzbekistan 3-0 and thrashed Honduras 5-1, the Flying Eagles lost 2-4 to Brazil, dumped North Korea 4-0 and defeated Hungary 2-0 without getting into second gear.

Thursday’s clash of continental champions is expected to be explosive, with the African champions boasting a well-knit squad capable of bringing down any opposition on their good day. And Anyansi-Agwu believes Thursday will be their good day.

“I have tremendous confidence in the team. They have the capacity to deliver and that group has done that several times over the past two years. I see the Flying Eagles in the quarter finals.”

Author: NFF Admin