Former junior international and General Manager, Shooting Stars Sports Club (3SC) of Ibadan, Dimeji Lawal, has tipped seven-time champions, the Flying Eagles of Nigeria for the semi-finals of the ongoing U20 AFCON championship in Egypt.
The Ladan Bosso-tutored boys lost their first game 0-1 to the Junior Teranga Lions of Senegal on Sunday and will be taking on hosts, Egypt for their second game. The Flying Eagles have been tipped as one of the favorites to win the competition having won all the friendly games but one going to Egypt.
Lawal, in an interview with Tribune Sports on Tuesday, said the boys have learnt a lot from their loss and have picked one or two things which they will take into the next game against the Junior Pharaohs of Egypt. He advised the boys not to press any panic button but remain focused in their next game.
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“They should not press any panic button. I think they are going to qualify. You see, when you go into a major tournament like that, you don’t know what to expect in the first game.
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“The game against Senegal should be an eye-opener for them. And I’m sure they are more prepared for the second game than the first one because they have been shocked. Against Egypt, I’m expecting nothing short of three points from them. I see them qualifying at the end of the tournament, that is how I see it,” he said.
When asked if the coach should stick to the formation against Senegal or use different methods against the Egyptians, Lawal, a member of the ‘Damman Miracle’ in Saudi 89 U20 World Cup, stated, “I’m not their coach and every game comes with different patterns and formations.
I’m sure the coach is wise enough to know the pattern and the formation he has to use in his next game.
I have the belief that he must have seen his next opponent (Egypt) play and should know what to do to counter their playing pattern. So that it the coach’s job and I’m sure the man (Bosso) is capable.
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