U-20 W/Cup: F’ Eagles Vow To Bounce Back …As Iheanacho, Success Face Bench Role

Flying Eagles led by skipper Musa Mohammed have vowed to  get their U20 World Cup campaign back on track with a win in tomorrow morning’s Group E clash against North Korea after a loss to Brazil.
The African champions fell 4-2 to five-time champions Brazil in their opening group game on Monday.
“We wish to apologise to Nigerians that we lost to Brazil, but we will make it up against North Korea. We will win on Thursday,” said skipper Mohammed.
“We have spoken to ourselves and you will see the result in our next game.”
Manchester City starlet Kelechi Iheanacho said he expects a tougher resistance from the Koreans after they also lost their opening game 5-1 to Hungary.
“It won’t be easy against Korea especially after they lost so woefully to Hungary, but we also know we need to win, no matter the margin,” Iheanacho said.
“Good enough the loss to Brazil does not mean the end of our campaign in New Zealand.”
Goalkeeper Joshua Enaholo said he would not dwell on his mistakes against Brazil as his focus is now on tomorrow’s game against North Korea.
“Yesterday is in the past. We are now all looking ahead to the next game on Thursday,” said the goalkeeper, who was voted the best goalkeeper at the African Youth Championship in Senegal in March.
Meanwhile, Coach Manu Garba is expected to axe Kelechi Iheanacho and Isaac Success, who started against Brazil on Monday, for the must-win U20 World Cup match against Korea tomorrow.
Injured Ifeanyi Matthew may also not be risked as the African champions go for broke against a team, who crashed 5-1 to Hungary in their opening group game in New Zealand.
Bernard Bulbwa may now be considered ahead of Success to partner Taiwo Awoniyi in attack, while Enyimba star Kingsley Sokari is most likely to be picked ahead of Iheanacho as the free agent in midfield.
Defensive midfielder Akinjide Idowu could well take the place of Ifeanyi Matthew, who is nursing a foot injury from the Brazil showdown.
Idowu is expected to bring his untiring marking prowess into the midfield, which was sorely missing in the Brazil match.
Coach Manu will keep faith with first-choice goalkeeper Joshua Enaholo despite his howlers gifted Brazil victory on Monday.
Enaholo has already dismissed his blunders, insisting it was a bad day in the office and he will now focus on the next game against Korea.

Flying Eagles’ Kelechi Iheanacho (right) in a tussle with a Brazilian opponent on Monday.