Nigeria’s Golden Eaglets will seek to solidify the road to winning her fourth trophy in the FIFA Under-17 World Cup when they tackle the Joven El Tri of Mexico in Concepción on Thursday.
The semi-final game is a rematch of the 2013 final of the competition when Nigeria beat Mexico 3-0 to cart home the trophy for the fourth time in the United Arab Emirates.
The Eaglets also met Mexico in the group stage of the competition hammering them 6-0 before completing the coup de grace in the final in swash-buckling style.
Emmanuel Amuneke, who is in charge of the Eaglets class of 2015, was part of the coaching staff led by Garba Manu which conquered the world and unveiled the likes of Taiwo Awoniyi, Kelechi Iheanacho and Success Isaac into the limelight.
The former Zamalek of Egypt winger hopes his talented side can go all the way and repeat the heroics of the class of 2013 while observing that the Mexicans are a very good side.
“The Mexicans ( below showing they can dance, as well as score ) are a very good side and their performance so far at Chile 2015 is an indication that they have a very solid structure back home,” he told thenff.com. ”
“But we are working to ensure that the players are mentally ready for this big match.”
Nigeria will rely on Victor Osimhen ( above, infront of mates warming up ) to unsettle the Mexican defence on match day. The rangy striker has notched seven goals so far in the tournament scoring in every game the Eaglets have played.
In his elements, the 16 year old is unplayable, accounting for a whooping fifty percent of the goals scored by Nigeria.
Goalkeeper Udoh Akpan has also continued to impress as the matches come tick and fast. The shot stopper has only conceded three goals in five matches.
He was quite impressive against Brazil in the quarter-final game, keeping the Eaglets within reach with a string of fantastic saves as Brazil swarmed Nigeria in the early stages of the game before the Eaglets took control later on.
Nigeria topped Group A of the 2015 event with six points from three matches to set up a date with the Junior Joeys of Australia whom they dispatched with aplomb.
The Eaglets weathered an early Brazil barrage to beat the Selecao 3-0 in the first ever game between the two sides at this level to set up a date with Mexico.
