John Obuh Warns Flying Eagles Not to Underrate U20 AFCON Group Opponents
Former coach of Nigeria’s youth teams, John Obuh, has warned the current Flying Eagles squad not to underrate any of their opponents at the upcoming African U20 Cup of Nations.
Many Nigerian football fans are feeling confident ahead of the tournament in Egypt, which starts next weekend. This comes after a new group draw placed Nigeria in the same group as Tunisia, Kenya, and Morocco, following Cote d’Ivoire’s withdrawal as hosts.
As Coach Aliyu Zubairu and his team travelled to Egypt on Sunday for their final preparations, Obuh advised them to stay focused and not judge teams by their names. He said any team can win if they are well-prepared and determined.
“What matters in football is preparation and improvement,” Obuh explained. “Many of these countries have improved a lot. Teams that didn’t have big-name players in the past are now doing well. No team should be taken lightly. If you go into matches with that mindset, you’re wasting your time.”
Obuh, who led the Golden Eaglets to second place at the 2009 FIFA U17 World Cup in Nigeria, also told Zubairu to focus on the current group rather than the original one.
“They should build on their previous training and improve it for the new group they’re in. It’s not about who you are facing but how determined and prepared you are to win,” Obuh added.
