UAE 2013: We’ll beat Mexico – Eaglets

Manu Garba

Nigeria coach Manu Garba and striker Chidera Ezeh say the Golden Eaglets will play Mexico in their Group F opening game of the UAE 2013 FIFA under-17 World Cup  like a cup final.

Three-time champions Nigeria face the defending champions in  Al Ain City on Saturday and the duo  are backing his team for victory.

“I think it is the Mexicans that should be afraid of playing us because we are a top side at this level,” he was quoted as saying on Thursday.

“The first game is crucial in any tournament and we are going to play Mexico like a cup final.”

Manu said history favours Nigeria as the likely team to become a record fourth titlist,  having won on three previous occasions on Asian soil.

 

“We feel very much at home here in the UAE because Asia is home away from home for us,” he said.

“We won in China for the first time in 1985  and also in 1993 in Japan, so we consider Asia as a traditional place for us.”

Manu assisted  the late Yemi Tella when the Eaglets won the 2007 edition in South Korea.

Ezeh said the Eaglets were ready for the Mexicans.

“We are getting the right information from our coaches about the Mexicans and. We have really settled down in UAE because we came into Dubai two weeks ago,” he said.