The General Secretary of Nigeria Football Federation (NFF), Dr. Mohammed Sanusi on Friday evening presented $1,000 to the Flying Eagles for their performance against Gli Azzurrini of Italy in the ongoing FIFA U20 World Cup in Argentina.
Sanusi had made the presentation on Friday evening in Buenos Aires after the Flying Eagles last training session ahead of the team’s encounter against Brazil on Saturday in La Plata.
The NFF scribe also gave out $100 to forward Emmanuel Umeh, who assisted the opening goal against Italy, for his tenacity and resilience in the build-up. He further charged the seven-time African champions to remain focused and relentless in their bid to top group D.
“Gentlemen, I am here to salute you on behalf of the Nigeria Football Federation for your excellent performance against Italy on Wednesday. I am currently on my way back to Nigeria and hopefully, I will be back to be with you in the closing stages of this championship.
“The Nigeria Football Federation under the leadership of Alhaji Ibrahim Musa Gusau is working assiduously to ensure you are given all the necessary support you require. I urge you to remain focused and be relentless against Brazil and replicate the same performance as you did against the Italians”.
The Flying Eagles will tackle Brazil’s Selecao Sub-20 this evening at the Estadio Ciudad de La Plata in their last group game.
The team have however completed their relocation from Mendoza to Buenos Aires.
After a shock 3-2 loss to the Italians in their opening group game, Brazil sent a message to the Flying Eagles that they are back in business by demolishing the Dominican Republic 6-0 to boost their chances of qualifying for the knockout stage.
Six different players netted for the South American powerhouse, namely Savio, Marcos Leonardo, Jean Pedroso, Giovane, Marlon Gomes and Matheus Martins.
If Brazil beat Nigeria today and Italy register a win against the Dominican Republic, three teams would finish on six points and goal difference would be used as the tiebreaker.
“The World Cup is very difficult and our group is very balanced. Nigeria already has six points. It was worth a lot for the difference”, Brazil U20 head coach Ramon Menezes was quoted as saying by Globo.
“Now it’s time to recover these players, and it shows the difficulties of this decisive game, and football doesn’t even have time to celebrate.
“We already have a trip, we have to train to play a great game on Saturday”.
Group D table-toppers Nigeria have a goal difference of +3, Brazil +5, Italy -1 and Dominican Republic -7.
If Nigeria avoid defeat against the Brazilians, they will clinch the coveted top spot in Group D.
The Flying Eagles are eagerly looking forward to the challenge and are determined to continue their scintillating run in the championship.
