Marsa FC of Tunisia left-wing-back, Ikouwem Udoh Utin has issued a strong warning to players in Nigeria’s youth national team, Flying Eagles, that they will get a tougher drill against Morocco this Sunday at the Africa U20 Cup of Nations in Egypt than they had versus Tunisia in their first match.
Sports247 reports that the former Enyimba of Aba captain, who has also played for Maccabi Haifa and Bnei Sakhnin of Israel as well as Slavan Belupo of Croatia and Shooting Stars Sports Club (3SC) of Ibadan, reckoned that Morocco will be tougher than their fellow-North African neighbours,
Tunisia, who the Flying Eagles beat 1-0 on Thursday.
He theorised further that Sunday’s match will be quite tricky because the Junior Atlas Lions will also aim to become the first team to qualify from the group, especially after seeing the Nigerians beat Tunisia by the odd goal.
That same day, the Moroccans romped back from behind to defeat Kenya 3-2 and storm to the top of Group B on goals difference, which Udoh pointed out will make Sunday’s second match for both teams a hard nut to crack, but expressed optimism in the ability of Coach Aliyu Zubairu’s side to carry the day.
The 25-year-old Udoh, who is also a former Flying Eagles captain, eulogised: “First and foremost, I want to say kudos to the team for their victory and good start in the tournament. I believe in the team, and I believe in what they can do.
“The first game was so important, and it was good that they got the three points as they did. I also want them to put on the mentality that the next game will be tougher.”
The product of Alaska Football Academy in Uyo, Akwa Ibom State, continued with a call for caution from Coach Zubairu and his wards, as he reckoned that the Moroccans must have watched the Nigerian team beat Tunisia and they will have started mapping out strategies to employ in stopping the former seven-time African junior champions, who placed third in 2023.
Udoh projected further, “The opponents will be more prepared because they have already seen our team play. So, our players should put in their mind that they will have a tougher game to play on Sunday.
“They should also put in their mind that they must win this game because that would mean they are good to go and get the cup.”
The soft-spoken defender, who captained Paul Aigbogun’s Flying Eagles to the second round at the 2019 FIFA U20 World Cup in Poland, concluded by chipping in a verdict that determination and self-belief will go a long way in helping Zubairu’s squad carry the day against Morocco in Cairo.
“Football is all about determination and about putting in everything, as if you are playing a final. If they can put on that mentality, they will win it; because we have good players there. Kudos to the team and all the supporters. We can do it,” Udoh affirmed.
