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Soccer News of Thursday, 21 January 2021

Source: www.mynigeria.com

Stagefright, anxiety affected the lads in the finals - Fatai Amoo

The Golden Eaglets at WAFU B Afcon qualifying tournament The Golden Eaglets at WAFU B Afcon qualifying tournament

Coach of the Golden Eaglets, Fatai Amoo said his boys were overwhelmed with stage-fright and anxiety as they failed to defend their WAFU B Afcon qualifying tournament title.

The U17 national team lost the final 3-2 to Ivory Coast in Togo on Monday after the Baby Elephants raced to a 3-0 lead. Despite trying to claw their way back into the game with two goals, the lads failed to score the decisive final goal.

Having beaten steep odds to reach the WAFU B final, coach Amoo is disappointed that his boys allowed the occasion’s pressure to handicap them.

However, the former Julius Berger gaffer is confident that the experience and exposure gained in Togo will stand the team well at the Afcon proper in Morocco later in the year, Soccernet.ng reports.

“Stagefright, anxiety, and lack of exposure affected the Eaglets in Togo, ” Amoo said, as per the Guardian.

“The boys allowed the pressure of meeting teams from other parts of Africa to overwhelm them. Based on the experience they got in Togo, I believe the boys have the prospect to shine in Morocco.

“The players I took to Togo were good, although their performance has exposed lapses, which will be corrected as the team progresses. At this point, I will not say I will inject new players to beef up the Eaglets, time will tell if such a move would be necessary.”

Nigeria are the most successful national boys team in the world with five FIFA U-17 World Cup titles and three runners-up medals.

The Golden Eaglets have also emerged African champions on two occasions in 2001 and 2007 and last made it to the final at Morocco 2013, where they lost the title-decider to Ivory Coast.