Nigeria can equal Ghana's record by winning U20 World Cup - Patrick Pascal
Ex-Nigeria striker Patrick Pascal is optimistic that the Flying Eagles can break the jinx to become the second Africa country after Ghana to win the Fifa Under-20 World Cup which has started in New Zealand.
The Black Satellites are the only African side to have won the tournament in 2009 but Nigeria with a strong squad are one of the fancied sides to win the competition.
Pascal, who is the co-ordinator of the Super Eagles told supersport.com that the present class of 2015 have all it takes to go all the way and win the trophy for the first time at U20 level.
“We have a team capable of winning the trophy because they are focused and have been together for a very long time which is quite impressive,”the former Wikki Tourist man said.
“It won’t be easy as the other teams will come into the tournament hoping to win it too, so the boys have to be at their very best.
“I think if they concentrate very well and do what they have to do, they are capable of going all the way to the final.”he added
Pascal also warned the team to be at their optimal best in every game because they are not an unknown quantity like they were at Under-17 level when they beat all comers to win the trophy in 2013 in the UAE.
He opined that teams will come well prepared for the Flying Eagles this time out and the surprise factor wont be there again.
“The Flying Eagles have their work cut out for them this time around. It is going to be very hard, but I have confidence that they will do the nation proud,”he enthused
“They have to give a 100 percent in every game because all the countries now know they were world champions at Under-17 level two years ago and they have almost the same team as of then.
“They also need the support need support and prayers from Nigerians as they begin their quest.”Pascal added.
Nigeria will start her 2015 Fifa U20 World Cup campaign on June 1 with a game against Brazil in New Plymouth.
The Flying Eagles are in Group E of the 2015 Fifa World Cup alongside Brazil, Hungary and North Korea.
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