NIGERIA VS NEW ZEALAND: Come and cheer Eaglets to victory - LOC appeals to Nigerians

05.11.2009

John Obuh, Eaglets CoachCHAIRMAN of the Abuja Sub –seat of the Local Organising Committee (LOC) for the FIFA U-17 World Cup, Nigeria 2009, Chief Taiwo Ogunjobi on Wednesday appealed to football fans to come out in their large numbers and storm the National Stadium, Abuja to cheer the Golden Eaglets in their Round of 16 clash against New Zealand this evening.

The three –time champions play New Zealand for a place in the tournament’s quarter finals.

“We are urging Nigerians to come out en masse to cheer our team. These are youngsters and they need our total support, from the beginning to the end. I believe that the performance of the team has been encouraging enough and I know Nigerians will troop out to support the boys”, said Ogunjobi, who is also Chairman of the Technical Committee of the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF).

The Abuja Sub –seat of the LOC has moved to secure buses that will convey football fans from their respective area councils to the National Stadium Complex today, for the match that will kick off at 7pm.

Head Coach, John Obuh has also called for support for the team as it seeks a place in the competition’s last eight. “We appreciate the support we have received so far from Nigerians from far and near, from the high and low places, but we need even more support to overcome in the knock –out stages.”

“As far as we are concerned, we will not under –rate any team. A football match is 90 minutes and until the referee’s whistle goes, nothing is certain. That is why a team must play for the duration of the game and maintain concentration all the time. That is one thing we have been able to inculcate in the boys and it will certainly help as we negotiate the knock –out rounds”, said Obuh, who made name on the domestic scene through achieving success with top clubs Niger Tornadoes FC and Kwara United FC.

Chairmen of the six area councils of the Federal Capital Territory have once again pledged to mobilize their residents to the National Stadium to cheer the Nigeria U-17 team in Thursday night’s match. Victory on Thursday night will send the defending champions to Calabar for a quarter –final tie with the winner of the clash between Mexico and Korea Republic, slated for Bauchi on Thursday evening.