U17 AFCON: Nduka Ugbade opens up on Golden Eaglets’ main priority in Algeria

Head coach of Nigeria’s U17 men’s national team, Nduka Ugbade, has revealed his priority ahead of the 2023 U-17 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) in Algeria.

The Flying Eagles were placed in Group B alongside Morocco, Zambia, and South Africa at the draw ceremony held on Wednesday, February 1, 2023, by the Confederation of African Football (CAF) in Algeria.

“Knowing that we have won the World Cup five times and we are favourites, we will not look at our group alone,” Ugbade told media.

“We know if we win the 4th match, surely we’ve gotten to the semi-final and qualified for the World Cup. It will be very interesting to know that the likes of Algeria, Senegal, and Congo are in groups in Cameroon, Mali, and Burkina Faso.

“Their stories can not leave our memory, they are very strong. At the WAFU-B tournament, we met Burkina Faso in the final, and again, we are not going to remove Congo.

“If you are going to this kind of competition and you don’t have fear, then you’re not prepared but not that it will cripple us, it’s that, that will create unbelievable performance when we have the opportunity to face any team in the competition, this is my view on the group.”