Despite losing their opening game in group B to the Baby Elephants of Ivory Coast, Fatai Amoo, the head coach of the Golden Eaglets has said that the players did not disappoint him in the game.
He admitted that it was a very difficult game for the Nigerian cadet players against their more bigger Ivorien opponents and he assured that the lapses noticed in the team will be corrected in the next game against the Black Starlets of Ghana on Saturday.
“I can boldly say in defeat that my boys did not disappoint me. It was a very difficult game for my boys given the fact they had a situation whereby a lot of them have not had this type of opportunity before, so they were a bit jittery,” Amoo said.
“What the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) have done is very commendable. To give these young players the opportunity to showcase their talents by participating in this tournament gladdens my heart.
“Though they played against a more formidable side, but I will not say that my boys are not good, they are good and they can play better in their next game against Ghana.
“All the mistakes, errors we noticed in the game against the Ivoriens, we will go back and do the necessary corrections before the next game.
“The second game is about football and we want to come and play better. Football at this level is about the development of the young talents.
“It is not just about winning alone. My team will do everything to win the game against Ghana, but it is not a do or die affair.
“In this tournament, we must think of fair play and the development of the players.”
