Odini, Oguntuase tip Eaglets to beat Sweden

Eaglets coach Manu Garba
 

Japan’93 FIFA U-17 World Cup winner, Festus Odini, and Cairo’91 All Africa Games bronze medallist, Jide Oguntuase,  have  tipped the Golden Eaglets to defeat debutants Sweden in their  2013 U-17 World Cup  Group F game in Al Ain, United Arab Emirates, on Tuesday.

Both teams were ruthless in their opening games on Saturday. The Nigerian youngsters hammered defending champions Mexico 6-1 while the Swedes whipped Iraq 4-1 in their first ever game at the U-17 World Cup.

In separate interviews with our correspondent on Monday,

 Odini and Oguntuase said they were confident the Eaglets would beat Sweden because “the team  showed glimpses of a good team right from their first game of the tournament”.

Odini  said, “The boys gave a good account of themselves against Mexico. No doubt, we have a good team, who can make the country proud on Tuesday.

“The Eaglets are in good hands; the coaches once played football at the top level and are highly experienced at this level of football. Beating Sweden won’t be a problem.”

Scotland ’89 FIFA U-17 World Cup quarterfinalist Oguntuase,  who praised the Eaglets  for beating Mexico by  a  wide  margin, believes the team must improve their attack.

“There were little lapses I noticed in their first match against the Mexicans. The boys are a little bit slow in attack and at scoring points. They need to improve in that aspect,” he said.

In captain Elias Andersson and Gustav Engvall, Sweden have a deadly strike partnership, which can wreak havoc on any defence.

Andersson provided the two passes that Engvall converted for his brace on Saturday and the duo’s friendship began off the field.

But Oguntuase believes the Swedes won’t pose any problem for three-time champions Nigeria.

“If our players go into the game with the mindset they had against a good team like Mexico, then I don’t think Sweden can stop them from claiming the three points at stake,” he said.