Mutiu Adepoju warns Flying Eagles against underrating World Cup group opponents

By Oyediji Oluwaseun Babatunde

Former Nigeria International, Mutiu Adepoju has warned Flying Eagles to prepare well and take each opponent seriously ahead of this year’s FIFA U-20 World Cup in Argentina.

Ladan Bosso’s side will face Brazil, Italy, and Dominican Republic in Group D and the 1994 African Cup of Nations (AFCON) winner says the Nigerian U-20 side can qualify for the knockout stage despite the pedigree of its foes.

The LaLiga ambassador feels the group will not be an easy challenge, while admonishing the team to take each opponent seriously.

“We should make sure our preparation is top notch and we should take each match as it comes. This is not just by mouth but we should work towards victory,” Adepoju told Tribune Sports.

“We can qualify for the next round from the group despite the pedigree of our opponents, but it is not an easy group because Brazil are always a tough opponent. We should prepare for Italy and the Dominican Republic too, and not just Brazil.

“Those are different moments and things have changed over the years. We can’t be comparing teams now. All they need to do is to see the strength of each team in the group.

“The coach and his boys should be ready for the task ahead. They should make sure they try and work very hard.”

Flying Eagles have finished as runners-up on two occasions at the FIFA U-20 World Cup, in Saudi Arabia in 1989 and in The Netherlands in 2005.

They were bronze medallists in the USSR in 1985 and this year’s championship will take place between 20 May and 11 June.