Coach Manu Garba on Thursday said the Flying Eagles have learnt a lot from the FIFA Under-20 World Cup in New Zealand, after crashing out in the Round of 16.
The Nigerian side lost 0-1 to Germany in their Round of 16 clash in Christchurch on Thursday to exit the competition.
However, Garba, who is the team’s Head Coach, said the whole competition had been a big lesson to the team, especially in not losing concentration when it mattered.
“I believe that our players learnt a lot from this game and a big lesson in general from the tournament. The level at the under-20s is far higher than at the under-17s, and Germany are a very tough and highly-tactical team.
“Our players lost concentration at the crucial moment and this gave the Germans a chance to score,’’ he said at the post-match news conference.
The coach, nonetheless, praised goalkeeper Joshua Enaholo, saying he played a great game.
“He may have saved that ball (which resulted in the game’s lone goal) if he had a clear view, but there is nothing we can do now,’’ he said.
Garba was, however, not singling out the goalkeeper for praise, saying “all my players have been in great form and I am proud of them all.’’
Looking back at the competition as a whole, the Nigerian coach said there had been so many unexpected results at the tournament, and one could never predict the winner.
Speaking also, the coach of Germany, Frank Wormuth, said he admired the Nigerian side, especially as they were very good technically, which makes them extremely difficult to play against.
He, however, said his team was able to keep the ball under pressure and it was their only chance to break through the Nigerian defence.
“In the end, I give congratulations to my team for finding the answer to the problems Nigeria posed us. They deserved the win and I am very impressed with them.
“I am especially proud of my team’s defence today (Thursday),’’ the coach said.
On their next opponents, Wormuth exuded confidence in the abilities of his team to advance to the semi-finals.
“Of course, our aim is to get to the final in Auckland. But to get there, we must go step to step and our next step is Mali. The German mentality is to always think this way.
“I expect Mali to play in quite a similar way to what we saw today (Thursday) from Nigeria,’’ he said.
Germany will, in the quarter-finals on Sunday in Christchurch, take on Mali, who had earlier beaten fellow African, Ghana, in the Round of 16.
Meanwhile, soccer fans from across the country have expressed sadness at the exit of the Flying Eagles from the World Cup.
Some of fans blamed the team’s elimination to loss of concentration, while a few believe the inclusion of certain players, who did not start out originally with the bulk of the team, was responsible for the ouster.
They faulted the invitation extended to Isaac Success, Moses Simon and Kelechi Iheanacho into the team, who they said did not join the team during the pre-tournament and the build up to the New Zealand tournament.
Some claimed that the team tried without success to re-enact the form that brought them success at the U-17 and the African U-20 level.
They went to the competition as the continental champions, where they defeated the hosts, Senegal in the final.
From Abuja, Coach Haruna Ilerika of FC Abuja, a Nigeria Nation-Wide League (NNWL) club noted that there was a lesson to be learnt from the match.
“I am not happy that we lost, but right now, there is nothing we can do about it. The Germans were better than us in every aspect of the game.
“We met a strong side and unfortunately, we succumbed to the heat. I am sure the team has something to learn from this match,’’ Ilerika added.
Bashir Saleh, Head Coach, Wikki Feeders FC of Bauchi also an NNWL side, said he was disappointed at the eventual outcome of the match.
“From the onset, the Eagles lost the midfield and the defence was not helpful. It is sad that we have lost out just like that. Even though it’s a competition, we cannot always win,’’ added Saleh.
Ibrahim Baba-Ayi, Coach of Taraba team observed that Eagles’ midfield wasn’t good enough. “Our players should have given the Germans some close marking, but they couldn’t.
He added it was regrettable that the team was eliminated too early in the tournament.
From Kaduna, Adulkakir Kapaka, Kaduna State FA Chairman said it was unfortunate they lost, even though the team had been well-prepared for the tournament.
“It’s unfortunate we lost the game because I know our team was one of the favourites at the tournament. The coaching crew was excellent but I don’t think we made more than ten attempt to score’’.
He said the German defence was good but the Eagles ran out of luck in making it beyond the knock out stage.
Kapaka advised member of the team not to lose faith as some of them would make the future Super Eagles’ team.
From Abakaliki, Desmond Ome, Secretary of Ebonyi FA noted that the Eagles were ‘second-best’ to the Germans at the match — a factor never noticed in them as the 2013 U-17 World Cup winning team.
“The Eagles were apparently afraid of the Germans as they chose to absorb pressures, rather than taking the game to their opponents that he noted was their hallmark in their U-17 days.
Abram Chaka, Secretary of Nationwide League Division 2 side in Ebonyi, blamed complacency for the ouster. “During their days in the U-17, they played with hunger and commitment in order to announce their presence at the world stage.
“Those on parade in New Zealand were shadows of themselves as most of them are now playing for foreign clubs, earning hard currencies and thinking they have arrived,’’ he said.
George Anizoba, Coach of former Ebonyi Federation Cup Champions, Mgbo Ambassadors blamed Coach Manu Garba for complicating the team’s situation with his choice of players.
“He apparently succumbed to pressures from high quarters to include the trio of Kelechi Iheanacho, Isaac Success and Moses Simon in his team, in spite of their failing to make his training programme.
“The Garba that I know could have stood his ground and select only players that were part of his programme’’.
He added, however, “apart from Success, the others came to New Zealand for jamboree”.
Ike Alozie, an Abakaliki-based Trader called on the Nigerian Football Federation (NFF) to take necessary positives from the teams’ ouster and plan ahead for future competitions.
“This team remains the future of Nigerian football as it won the 2015 Africa Youth Champion, the 2015 Super-six league competition, among other heart-warming results,” he said.
Judith Okorie, a Physical Education Teacher urged the NFF to immediately commence preparation for the upcoming FIFA U-17 World Cup in Chile, to ensure that the Golden Eaglets would be adequately prepared for their competition.
