Congo Coach Talks Tough ahead Flying Eagles Clash
Congo Under- 20 Coach, Paolo Berrettini, has said his boys do not fear Nigeria and will fight to win today’s decisive 2015 African Youth Championship (AYC) Group ‘A’ match against the six-time champions.
The Flying Eagles will grab a World Cup ticket today in the match-day two clash against Congo at the Stade Leopold Sedar Senghor, Dakar if they win this crucial tie.
The Nigerians defeated hosts, Senegal 3- 1 in the championship opener on Sunday while Congo shared the spoils against Cote d’Ivoire in a 1- 1 draw.
Congo’s goal was netted by Raja Casablanca of Morocco ace, Silvere Ganvoula Mboussy, in the 75th minute after they fell behind in the 37th minute.
“I will focus on my team against a big team from Nigeria. We must play to win and qualify for the semifinals,” said Berrettini.
“Against Cote d’Ivoire, we did not have a good first half as we did not play as well as our opponents. But in the second half we came back into the game,” recalled Berrettini.
Congo, who eliminated defending champions Egypt in the qualifiers, boasts of five full internationals led by striker Georges Bidimbou who were at the recent Africa Cup of Nations ( AFCON) in Equatorial Guinea
But a former Flying Eagles Coach, Abimbola Samuel, predicted a resounding victory for the Nigerian team against Congo.
Samuel said though the clash is most likely to be difficult but insisted that the Nigerians have quality weapon to unsettle the Congolese opponents.
“The Flying Eagles will excel in the clash against Congo on Wednesday. I see the side coming top in their group.
“Congo Brazzaville will be difficult but the Nigerians are quite prepared and exposed with fine quality players which will give them 100 per cent edge against their Congolese foes.
“The Glo Super Four tournament in Abuja as well as the two-legged friendly against the Ghanaian opposite and other pre-championship preparations are proofs of the unfolding good work we are seeing in Senegal.
“I followed closely their preparations in Abuja and Kaduna and I think they’re quite determined to be African champions again as well as go to the world to excel,” said the former Sunshine Stars coach to supersport. com.
Samuel however warned the nation’s representa- tives against any form of complacency against their opponents.
“Flying Eagles must avoid complacency in everything they do at the championship in Senegal and beyond.
“They must remember that Nigeria is always the team to beat, every team wants to beat Nigeria in any championship.
“They shouldn’t be heady with their achievement but remain cool headed, I believe they’ve bright chance of not only winning a World Cup ticket but going to the global arena as African champions,” said the former Prime FC head coach.
A win for Flying Eagles against the Congolese will automatically hand them a World Cup ticket to New Zealand regardless of the outcome of the last group clash against Cote d’Ivoire