GO FOR GOLD: Peter Ijeh says the Eaglets can win Gold if they play well against Mexico in the FIFA U-17 World Cup final on Friday.

Sweden-based Nigerian international, Peter Ijeh says the Golden Eaglets should raise their game when they engage Mexico in the final of the UAE 2013 FIFA U-17 World Cup on Friday, 8 November, with an ultimate aim to write the country’s name in GOLD.
Ijeh, who is currently the Manager/Head Coach at Fc Frölunda Futsal Gothenburg in Sweden, believes the best team will win the match, but he tipped the Eaglets to lift the cup based on their superb performance since the cadet World Cup commenced last month.
“I want to see the best of the Eaglets against Mexico on Friday, and I hope they give football fans a final to remember, and of course, I will like them to win the trophy for our country”, Ijeh, a former Highest Goal Scorer in the Nigeria Professional League told eyeonthesports.com in a telephone interview from his base.
According to Ijeh, a certified UEFA Licence Coach, the grand finale will be a different ball game for the Nigerian youngsters, who defeated Mexico 6-1 in their first encounter during the group stage of the World Cup.
“The Eaglets should not be complacent and must not think that the cup would be won with ease. The Mexicans would not want to be disgraced twice, so they are coming back to fight this time around. I want the Nigerian team to be prepared for this match.
“From the Technical Crew, led by Coach Manu Garba to back room staff and the players, all of them must be focused and approach the encounter with the right tactics and mentality to win, they must work to earn the title, I wish them luck though”, Ijeh told eyeonthesports.com.
Ijeh, a former Nitel FC and Julius Berger of Lagos attacker, praised the coaching crew for assembling the crop of young and talented players for this year’s U-17 World Cup, noting that skipper Musa Muhammed, Kelechi Iheanacho, Taiwo Awoniyi and others would go places in international football.
“The team’s performance has been wonderful, while the players are young and very skilful. I believe they can graduate through the ranks and form the bedrock of Nigeria’s senior teams in the future”.
Ijeh, who watched the semi final match between Nigeria and Sweden with some close friends in Gothenburg, Sweden, said the Swedes are yet to recover from the shocking 3-0 defeat handed to their team by the Eaglets.
“Everyone was apprehensive before the semi final match between Nigeria and Sweden, bearing in mind that their group tie ended 3-3 earlier, but the result was a rude shock, and that goes to show that football is not mathematics”, Ijeh concluded.
The final match holds at 20:00 hours, 5pm Nigerian time about an hour after the third place tie between Sweden and Argentina slated for 17:00 hours, 2pm in Nigeria.