Nigeria’s youth national team, Flying Eagles are already primed at 90% readiness for this year’s FIFA U20 World Cup in Chile, according to one of the squad’s top strikers, Kparobo Nathaniel Arierhi.
Sports247 reports that, while many Nigerian football fans and analysts remain sceptical of the Flying Eagles’ quality, following their 1-0 loss to South Africa in the semi-finals of the recent continental championship, Arierhi believes they will be good enough to return home with the World Cup.
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The 18-year-old product of Beyond Limit Football Academy of Ikenne, Ogun State, who signed for Lillestrom SK of Norway on the 10th of March this year, projected further that Coach Aliyu Zubairu’s squad will be 100% ready by the time the Youth Mundial begins in Chile.
The youngster, who is managed by renowned players’ agent Atta Aneke, went on to reveal the biggest area of strength he believes will help the Flying Eagles become world champions and tipped their defenders to stand out at the competition, despite many critics rating them not tall enough.
Kparobo declared, “I believe we are already 90% ready. When it’s time to go, then we’ll give it 100%. Our defenders are very good, and just a little fixing will make them get better.
“Cutting aerial balls and blocking the flanks will take us there. We want to finish and be there when it matters.”
He concluded by analysing the impact of height advantage and noted the biggest asset that can be spotted in the Flying Eagles’ backline.
“The tallest defenders make the highest jump, and they are good at aerial balls. But, it’s not about being short, because they can also do well once they can lift themselves high,” Kparobo theorised.
