. As Manu Garba expresses confidence
TECHNICAL Adviser of the Golden Eaglets, Manu Garba has expressed optimism about the chance of Nigeria to qualify from the group stage of the FIFA U–17 World Cup, UAE 2013 scheduled to run from October 17 to November 8 this year.
At a draw held on Monday at at Fairmont Bab El Bahr Hotel, Abu Dhabi, Nigeria face defending champions, Mexico in the opening group F match on october 19 while Sweden and Iraq are also in the group.
“This is a fair draw for us and and again, we have no choice but to prepare very well and qualify from the group to the next stage. The group is an exciting one given the pedigree of the teams," Garba owned up.
The former junior international also acknowledged that CONCACAF champions (Mexico) hold the ace in group F.
“Of course yes, you will pick Mexico as one of the best teams at this level having won the championships in two recent editions but everybody knows that Nigeria are also a power to reckon with because we have won it on three previous occasions.
"So, we are going to do everything humanly possible to qualify from the group. There is no minnow in football again. We have debutants in our group in Sweden and Iraq but we are going to give every team the utmost respect they deserve," said Garba, who assisted the late Coach Yemi Tella, to win the 2007 FIFA U-17 World Cup in Korea.
Three-time champions, Brazil and Slovakia will clash in group A at Mohammed Bin Zayed stadium
in Abu Dhabi on October 17 to kick start the championships while the host, the United Arab Emirates (UAE) and Honduras make up the group.
African champions, the Baby Elephants of cote d'ivoire are to face Uruguay, New Zealand and
Italy in group B while Morocco will battle with Croatia, Panama and Uzbekistan in Group C.
Another Africa's representatives, Tunisia will face Venezuela, Russia, Japan in group D while Canada, Austria, Iran, Argentina are drawn in group E.
The championships will hold in six venues; Abu Dhabi, Dubai, Ras Al Khaimah, Fujairah, Sharjah and Al Ain.Nigeria it will be recalled won the competition in 1985, 1993 and 2007, a record equalled by Brazil having emerged champions in 1997, 1999 and 2003.
The full draw:
Group A: United Arab Emirates, Honduras, Brazil, Slovakia
Group B: Uruguay, New Zealand, Côte d'Ivoire, Italy
Group C: Croatia, Morocco, Panama, Uzbekistan
Group D: Tunisia, Venezuela, Russia, Japan
Group E: Canada, Austria, Iran, Argentina
Group F : Mexico, Nigeria, Iraq, Sweden
Caption of the photograph: Musa Yahaya, Golden Eaglets player in action during the African championships in Morocco early this year.
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