Newsgist-Kanu [aka] papilo fires up Eaglets for fourth title

Newsgist-Japan ’93 FIFA U-17 World Cup winner, Nwankwo Kanu, believes the Golden Eaglets will overcome Mexico in Friday’s final of the 2013 edition in the United Arab Emirates for their fourth title.

Kanu’s goals two decades ago propelled Nigeria to their second title of the U-17 competition and he believes the present squad have what it takes to add a record fourth trophy.

The retired Nigerian player, who went on to help Nigeria win a gold medal at the Atlanta ‘96 Olympic Games, left Lagos on Thursday, to cheer the Eaglets to victory in Abu Dhabi.

He said, “When I watched these boys in Calabar during the African qualifiers, I said they were a team to watch out for but I don’t think a lot of people agreed with me.

“But I knew what I was saying. The boys are talented and know how to score goals. The only problem the team had was in defence, which had been rectified by the coaches.”

The Eaglets-Mexico match-up brings back memories of the 2001 edition in Trinidad & Tobago, when the Nigerian youngsters beat France in the group stage but lost the final of the competition to the same team.

Nigeria had hammered Mexico 6-1 in their Group F opener in Al Ain last month but the Mexicans bounced back, beating the likes of Brazil and Argentina, on the way to the final.

“This is a different team. With a little bit of luck, they will surely triumph. They need the support of all Nigerians,” Kanu said.