Don’t write off Flying Eagles yet, says Erico

• Garba promises team’s fight back

Former Super Eagles assistant coach, Joe Erico, has pleaded with football loving Nigerians not to write off the national U-20 team over yesterday’s 4-2 defeat by Brazil in the on-going FIFA U-20 World Cup taking place in New Zealand.

Erico noted that the Flying Eagles had a good game against the Brazilians, but were not able to earn the maximum three points because they made some silly mistakes at the defense line, adding that the defeat was an opportunity for the Coach Manu Garba tutored side to redouble their effort and win its remaining matches.

He urged the Flying Eagles not to allow the defeat to bring disaffection in the team, stressing that the boys must focus in winning their next game to still be in contention for the quarterfinal ticket.

He also called on the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) to keep motivating the players as they prosecute the remaining matches in the cadet world championship.

“I don’t think the result against Brazil would affect the Flying Eagles in any way. They had a good game against Brazil, but due to some little mistakes they lost. The defeat by Brazil would spur the boys to come out strong in their remaining matches,’’ he said

Meanwhile, Flying Eagles’ Coach, Manu Garba, hopes his team would bounce back in their other two group games against Korea and Hungary to secure the quarterfinal ticket of the competition.

They face North Korea on Thursday, before they take on Hungary in a final group game at the weekend.

“It was a very disappointing result but I never expected us to lose so woefully to Brazil,” said Manu after the loss to the South Americans.

“Two of the goals were goalkeeping errors and should not happen in such a competition like the World Cup.

“Even their second goal to draw the game level at 2-2 should not have been allowed by the defenders.
“We made a lot of mistakes in this game. But we will win our next two games to be back in contention in this tournament.”