Abuja, Nigeria – (African Boulevard News) – Nigeria’s U17 head coach, Nduka Ugbade, says that the team will be hugely motivated for their TotalEnergies U17 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) quarter-final tie against Burkina Faso in Algiers on Thursday. According to Ugbade, the team’s motivation stems from their desire to qualify for the FIFA U17 World Cup.
In an interview with the media, Ugbade said, “Going to the World Cup is a huge motivation for us. We want to qualify for the World Cup, and we know that winning the AFCON will guarantee us a spot. So we will do everything within our power to win the tournament.”
The Eaglets, who finished top of Group B with nine points, will face Burkina Faso, who finished second in Group A, in the quarter-finals. The winner of the tournament will qualify for the FIFA U17 World Cup taking place in Peru later this year.
Ugbade praised his team’s performance in the group stage and expressed confidence in their ability to progress in the tournament. “I am proud of my team’s performance in the group stage. We have a talented group of players who are capable of achieving great things. We will take it one game at a time and give our best against Burkina Faso.”
The Nigerian team will be boosted by the return of forward Ahmed Abdullahi, who missed their final group game due to suspension. Abdullahi scored three goals in their first two games and will be a key player for the Eaglets in the knockout stage.
Ugbade urged the team to remain focused and work hard to achieve their goal of winning the AFCON. “We have a tough game against Burkina Faso, but we are ready for the challenge. We need to remain focused and work hard to achieve our goal of qualifying for the World Cup.”
In conclusion, the Eaglets are highly motivated to win the AFCON and qualify for the FIFA U17 World Cup. The team’s head coach, Nduka Ugbade, believes that winning the tournament is crucial for their World Cup aspirations and has urged his players to remain focused and work hard. With the return of Ahmed Abdullahi, the Eaglets will be confident of progressing to the semi-finals and taking one step closer to achieving their goal.
