Flying Eagles’ Coach, Manu Garba, has said the national U-20 team would this week resume preparations for the forthcoming FIFA Junior World Cup billed to hold in New Zealand if the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) approved the programme he sent to the board.
Garba revealed that he has already submitted the provisional list of players for the World Cup to the Federation of International Football Association (FIFA), ruling out the possibility of injecting new players to the team.
The former U-17 national team handler, who led the Flying Eagles to victory at the just concluded African U-20 Championship in Senegal, admitted that Nigeria would have a daunting task in New Zealand because as African Champions their opponents would fight hard to beat the team to prove they are also strong sides.
Garba said his dream is to get all the invited players in camp early to enable the coaches to work on the team before the World Cup, while assuring Nigerians that he would work hard to assemble a formidable team for the country.
“I have sent my World Cup programme to the NFF for approval. The Flying Eagles camp will open in Abuja or Kaduna for the World Cup, but I am waiting for the Federation to provide the logistics for the preparations.
“I am not facing any challenge now. All I seek for is early release of the foreign-based players because players like Iheanacho, Yahaya and others need to join the camp to enable me blend the team,” Garba said.
Meanwhile, secretary to the U-20 team, Ali Cairo, told The Guardian Monday that the team would commence training for the World Cup on Sunday, April 12, adding, however, that the federation has not yet settled on the venue the team would camp to prepare for the championship.
