Nigeria’s Flying Eagles Head Coach Aliyu Zubairu has expressed his optimism ahead of the AFCON U20 quarterfinal clash with Senegal on Monday.
Speaking to Journalists on Sunday in a pre-match press conference, Aliyu noted that the Nigerian team can’t afford to miss the world cup ticket.
“We have really prepared for the match, considering how we got to this level-but all the same, we’ve got to a stage where we either get it right or lose World Cup ticket. The boys already know that and we working towards it, and I believe tomorrow we will scale through to the semifinals”.
Noting that the Senegal team are the defending champions of the tournament and also have a relative rivalry with the Nigerian team, the coach said the quarterfinal clash will bear the weights of the past records of both teams, saying “Tomorrow won’t be an exception, so all those factors will play a role in tomorrow’s match but we shall win”
The gaffer insisted that he and his boys are not under any pressure but remain focused on the main target of securing the world cup.
“Any football match that is competitive in nature comes with some pressure but that pressure isn’t enough to play any negative role in the team, it will rather help us and serve as motivation.
“We started the journey from WAFU-B and what we’ve been working for is to go for the World Cup.Tomorrow’s match will be the semifinal so definitely we all know we go without pressure and ready for the battle. I don’t think there’s any pressure that will affect the team it can only be the one that serves as psychological motivation for the team, so we ready for tomorrow”
The clash between both teams is scheduled to take place 1pm(Nigerian time) on Monday at Ismaili stadium in Egypt.
Coach Aliyu Zubairu in October last year led the Flying Eagles of Nigeria to securing the AFCON ticket and WAFU-B championship glory. He’s again determined to replicate the feat by securing a World Cup ticket for the Nigerian team.
