Manu Garba Wary Of Niger

Golden Eaglets’ Head coach, Manu Garba, said he was not unmindful of the challenges ahead of his wards in the forthcoming 2013 African Under-17 championship qualifiers.

 

Eaglets first round opponent,  Niger won the Airtel Rising Stars Africa Championship at the weekend in Nairobi.

 

Both Zambia and Niger reportedly played an entertaining final match but it was decided via penalty shootout after a pulsating goalless draw in extra-time. 

 

Niger scored all their penalties through Mamane Karibou, Issa Souleymane, Abubacar Timbo, Idrissa Amadou and Issifou Garba; Timothy Sakala, Thomas Juma Mutale, Denis Chebuye and Albert Bwalya were on target for Zambia while Shadrack Chimanya missed.

 

Reacting to the victory of the Nigeriens, Garba said the success of the team is an indication of how good they are; consequently the Golden Eaglets would have to be mentally strong to dislodge them.

 

“The Nigerien Under-17 team must be very good to have won the tournament in Kenya and we must respect them when we meet,” said the soft spoken Garba. “Of course, we respect all our opponents and we would be ready to play against them.”

 

In a related development, Golden Eaglets’ Chidera Ezeh at the weekend led Riverlane Football Club to win the maiden edition of the Enugu North Under 17 Championship after a flattering 5-0 thrashing of Dynamos Football Club.

 

The former Under-15 star striker, who was released to feature for his local team, said he was so glad to captain the team to win yet win another trophy.

 

“I’m happy that we won the competition,” said Ezeh, a SS2 student of Army Day Senior Secondary School in Enugu. “We have won other competitions in the past but this one is special because I went from the Golden Eaglets’ camp to help my team.

 

“I’m confident that this luck that I have would extend to the Golden Eaglets as we prepare for our qualifying matches,” added Eze.