U17AFCON: Ugbade wants efficient Eaglets against South Africa

Head coach of Nigeria’s Golden Eaglets, Nduka Ugbade wants his wards to be at their efficient best when they face South Africa at the U17 Africa Cup of Nations (U17AFCON) in Algeria on Saturday.

The Eaglets are billed to square up with the Amajimbos of South Africa in their final group game on Saturday night, knowing that they only need to avoid defeat to book a place in the quarter finals.

Ugbade watched helplessly at the touchline as his boys frittered away many scoring chances and ultimately succumbed to a 0-1 loss to Morocco in their second group game on Wednesday.

The former Golden Eaglets captain acknowledges where his team faltered and expects an improvement from there.

“We need to now concentrate on the match against South Africa and try to be much more efficient and effective around the goal areas and look for some other ways to make impact during the game so that we can as well control the game or control the outcome. We have a chance (to progress) but a chance can fade away at any given time,” said Ugbade.

South Africa bounced back from their opening day defeat to Morocco with a hard earned 3-2 win over Zambia to stay in contention for a place in the quarter final. The last time both Nigeria and South Africa met in this competition, the South Africans won (in 2015).

“We want to be more effective, more prolific in front of goal. It is a bit confusing because when we were in Nigeria preparing, we were scoring so many goals but when we came here we are not doing that. Sometimes with these young ones it is about psychology and we have addressed that,” said Ugbade.

Saturday’s match billed for the Stade Mohamed Hamlaoui in Constantine will kick-off at 8pm Algerian time (same time in Nigeria). Winner of the contest will automatically join group leaders Morocco in the knockout phase of the competition.