…It was not an easy match, says Amuneke

Chukwueze dedicates fastest goal to mum
Despite beating the host, Chile, 5-1 in their second Group match on Tuesday night to advance to the round of 16, Golden Eaglets handler, Coach Emmanuel Amuneke says the victory did not come easy.

“This match against Chile was not an easy one despite the fact that we won 5-1 because we played against a very good team with good players,” Amuneke noted at the post match conference.

He continued: “We knew they are a very good side and a very difficult team to play against because they have the full support of the crowd. But we were able to come up with the tactics to deal with their style and our players were able to interpret very well our plans for the game.”

The Eaglets’ supremo said it was his responsibility to keep the boys focus even after a very good performance against the host, adding that the next game against Croatia would not be easy.

“I think this is a peculiar group and the fact that Chile lost today doesn’t mean they are a bad side, they can still qualify from the group if they can get a good result in their last game against USA,”
he noted.

“We lost to Croatia at the pre-world Cup tournament in Suwon and we must respect them despite the fact that they have drawn their last two matches.”

Amuneke also commended the Local Organizing Committee (LOC) of FIFA U-17 World Cup Chile 2015.

Speaking at the Sausalito Stadium in Val de Mar, the former Barcelona winger said he was impressed so far with the organization of the tournament adding, the Golden Eaglets have well been catered for
here.

“We have enjoyed our time since we arrived in Santiago and I’m extremely happy to be here in Chile for good reasons because this is an important championship for the youths,” he said.

“The Chilean people
are friendly, which is good for football, FIFA and the organizers of
this tournament.”

Amuneke further said Chile 2015 was gradually living to the bill with the standard seen so far even as he predicted better days for the budding stars: “It would be the joy of all of us to see these young ones in the future and we can then look back at Chile 2015 and say this is where the story began.”

Meanwhile, Eaglets’ forward Samuel Chukwueze who scored the fastest goal at the on-going FIFA U-17 World Cup Chile 2015 with his 30 seconds opener in the 5-1 mauling of Chile on Tuesday has dedicated the goal to his adorable mum, Mrs. Chinyere Sarah Chukwueze.