Super Eagles out-of-contract goalkeeper trainer, Ike Shorunmu, has described as unfortunate the Golden Eaglets ouster at the ongoing African Under-17 Championship in Niger Republic.
The reigning world champions lost 0-1 to their South African opposition, Amajimbos, in Wednesday’s semifinal clash at the General Seyni Kountche Stadium in Niamey.
Shorunmu said nobody could have foreseen Eaglets’ ouster in the hands of South Africans as the side were quite impressive in their past matches.
“It’s quite unfortunate for Eaglets to see off their title hope in the semifinal against South Africa.
“I never imagined that they could be eliminated at this stage of the competition as they were impressive in the past matches.
“It’s quite a pity as nothing anybody can do right now to upturn the result but for the coaches to continue doing their work as well as improving.
“They must have picked valuable lessons that will be handy and useful at the upcoming World Cup.
“It’s better they suffered the humbling at the African cadet championship than go to the World Cup as champions to fumble.
“Right now the coaches and players know there are work to be done if they’re to defend the world title in Chile,” said the former Nigerian shot stopper to supersport.com.
Shorunmu however charged the Eaglets to go all out to win the third place match at least to bring something back home at the end of the championship.
“I want them to go all out to win the third place match as third place position is worth fighting for.
“At the last edition in Morocco they finished as runners-up behind winners, Ivory Coast but headed to the world to become champions.
“You never know they can still go to world to conquer in Chile despite failing to win at the African stage,” said Shorunmu.
Eaglets will wait for the losers of the semifinal clash between Mali and Guinea on Thursday to know the third place opponents on Tuesday at the General Seyni Kountche Stadium in Niamey.
All the semifinalists of the ongoing African cadet championship in Niger have automatically qualified to represent the continent at the global football showpiece in Chile.
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