Golden Eaglets will today take on their Gabonese counterpart in the second leg CAF U17 qualifier at the UJ Essuene Stadium, Calabar. Head coach of the team, Emmanuel Amuneke said yesterday that the players were battle ready for what he described as a revenge mission against the Gabonese that defeated them in the first leg by 2-1, away.
Amuneke assured that the Eaglets who are the defending champions would feast on Gabonese, as the Eaglets are ready to make them pay for the shabby treatment melted out on them during the first leg two weeks ago.
The former African Footballer of the Year said everything that is needed to beat Gabon have been done as the players have been lectured on the strategies designed to shoot Gabon down.
He however called on Nigerians especially football fans in Calabar and its environs to troop out en mass to support the team.
The Eaglets finally returned the UJ Esuene Sport Stadium in Calabar on Wednesday one year after their predecessors mauled Diamond Football Club of Umuahia 5-1 on September 21, 2013 when Chidera Eze grabbed a brace alongside Taiwo Awoniyi, Musa Yahaya and captain fantastic, Musa Muhammed.
It is on record that the 2013 World Cup-winning Golden Eaglets won all their matches including three CAN Under-17 qualifiers and four international friendly matches at the U.J Esuene Stadium the last term.
The complex has been under renovation ahead of the forthcoming National Sport Festival in November and Amuneke is excited about Eaglets’ return, calling on fans to troupe en mass for the cracker against Gabon.
“First and foremost, we want to really thank Governor Imoke and the people of Cross River State for their usual support to the Golden Eaglets.”
“Calabar is our home and it is on record we have not lost a game at the UJ Esuene Stadium. I’m using this opportunity to call on the fans to come and cheer us to victory on Saturday, (today). We are going to do our best to make Nigerians happy.”
The former Nigerian international further said it was inappropriate to blame the condition of the UJ Esuene pitch for Super Eagles 2015 Africa Cup of Nations’ qualifier loss to Congo, saying the Eaglets are battle ready for Gabon.
