Olawale Ajimotokan
13 November 2009
Lagos — Spanish coach Gines Melendez last night conceded that Nigeria was the better side worthy of its victory in the second semi final of the FIFA U-17 World Cup played at the Teslim Balogun Stadium, Lagos.
The Golden Eaglets prevailed 3-1 with goals by Stanley Okoro and Sani Emmanuel to set up a final match against Switzerland billed for Abuja on Sunday.
Melendez told reporters that Nigeria was the better side and was more result oriented in the encounter adding Spain could not offer a response to the Eaglets counter offensive play.
" I must congratulate Nigeria on their victory. It was match full of balance. We played very well at the beginning of the match. But we lost our attitude towards the end of the match. Nigeria logically played better and was more resultant. They were stronger and faster on the ball.
Nigeria was stronger than all the teams we have played against at the competition. The final will be a big battle between two great teams. Switzerland is a nice team that know how to play with the ball, but I want to say again that Nigeria is the team to beat," Melandez said.
He said that his objective is to help Spain form a good team in the future from some of the players identified at the tournament.
Also Eaglets coach John Obuh said that he was happy with the display of his side at the U-17 World Cup which he said has thrown him into the limelight.
According to Obuh he was only an unknown coach in the local league before the start of the tournament.
He described the victory over Spain as a hard fought win adding that having booked a place in the final the team would do its best to retain the trophy.
"Spain was well rated going into the semi final match. But I psyched up my players not to entertain any fear. It was a tough match played at a high tempo. Our mission now is to retain the trophy which Nigeria won two years ago in South Korea," Obuh said.
In the same vein, Golden Eaglets captain Fortune Chukwudi said that Nigeria will not be unsettled by Switzerland's 100 percent record in the tournament in the final.
Fortune said they would work as a team and try to dictate the tempo of the match.
" We are not bothered by their record. Rather they should be concerned about our own profile at this level," concludes Chukwudi.
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