Football-loving Nigerians need not lose sleep over the national U-17 team’s chances of qualifying for the African U-17 Championship scheduled for Niger from February 15 to March 1, 2015.
According to the Chief Coach of the Golden Eaglets, Emmanuel Amuneke, there is no cause alarm.
The assurance came on the heels of fears from different quarters in the country that the team might not qualify after the defeat suffered in the hands of Gabon on Sunday, September 14.
The Gabonese shocked the Golden Eaglets 2-1 in the final round, first leg of the U-17 championship qualifier at the Stade Augustin Monedan de Sibang in Libreville.
While stepping up preparations for the return leg billed for next week at the U.J. Eusene Stadium, Calabar, Cross River State, Amuneke charged the players to put behind them the result of the first leg while assuring Nigerians of the last laugh.
He said: “I believe in the players and their ability to live up to expectations when it matters most. We’ve learnt from what happened in the first leg and we will guard against its repeat in the second leg.
“We’ve started undergoing strenuous work in preparations for the return leg and I have told the players to put behind them all that happened in Libreville.
“We are condemned to win the return leg and we must all be focused on everything we are going to do from now.
“All I want from Nigerians in general is their support, prayers and the belief that we can do it and we will do it.
“So I can say it loud and clear that there is no cause for alarm on our qualification for the championship proper.”
The former Super Eagles and FC Barcelona player urged the Eaglets to put in their best in the return leg to smile last.
“Hard work will be the watchword, and nothing but hard work, because we need to prove that we are worthy champions and we don’t need to be aided by the referee before winning matches,” he added.
Nigeria, as defending champion of the World U-17 championship, drew a bye in the first round of the African qualifiers, but defeated RD of Congo 1-0 on their soil before completing the routing 4-0 in the return leg in Nigeria.
The Confederation of African Football (CAF), organisers of the championship, has fixed next weekend for the return legs of the final round, first leg matches.
The overall winners from the return legs would qualify for the final tournament scheduled for Niger in 2015.
The semi-finalists at the continental championship will represent Africa at the Federation of International Football Association (FIFA) U-17 World Cup fixed to run from October 17 to November 8, 2015 in Chile.
