Golden Eaglets head coach Manu Garba has assured fans that his team is ready to move past the disappointment of missing the final of the WAFU-B U-17 tournament as they prepare to face Burkina Faso in the third-place playoff.
The Eaglets, who fell short of expectations in the semi-final after a string of strong performances, will now be hoping to end their campaign on a high with a podium finish.
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Speaking after the semi-final loss, Garba admitted that injuries to key players had disrupted the team’s rhythm and affected their chances of reaching the final. However, he stressed that the setback has only strengthened the resolve of the squad.
“We suffered some injuries and it certainly had an impact on our performance, but that is part of football,” he said.
“Now our focus is on finishing strong against Burkina Faso. We will be ready, whether or not the injured players are available for selection.”
Garba, who is one of Nigeria’s most experienced youth coaches and has previously guided the U-17 team to World Cup glory, emphasized the importance of using this game to rebuild confidence and give the players valuable experience.
According to him, the third-place playoff should not be treated as a consolation but as an opportunity to showcase resilience and pride. “Every match at this level is important,” he explained. “We want to show that we can bounce back from disappointment, and the boys are determined to give everything.”
The Golden Eaglets’ campaign has been closely watched as Nigeria continues to build a new generation of talent for the future.
Garba highlighted that the players’ development is just as crucial as results at this stage, but he also made clear that the team is committed to giving supporters something to cheer about. “We owe it to our fans and to ourselves to finish strong,” he concluded.
