Despite the 5-1 victory against Ivory Coast in the ongoing U17 AFCON zonal qualifiers, Nigeria coach Manu Garba says his boys should have scored more goals.
The 2013 FIFA U17 World Cup winning coach added that they have put the victory behind them and are ready to face any of Ghana, host Niger Republic or Togo in the semifinals.
''Well all we wanted was two-goal difference to be sure of going to the semifinals. Now that we won by four-goal difference, I think there is no cause for alarm although we created a lot of chances both in the first and the second half,'' Manu Garba said post match.
''Unfortunately, our boys didn't take those chances. We are still going to the training pitch now to work on some of the lapses we have noticed both defensively and offensively.
''God willing, in the next match some of the chances we have missed are going to be converted.''
Garba added : ''At this point in time, the most important thing is getting to the semifinals. Whichever team comes, we have already seen them and we know how to handle most of the teams now.
Garba added : ''At this point in time, the most important thing is getting to the semifinals. Whichever team comes, we have already seen them and we know how to handle most of the teams now.
''Today's match would have been a difficult match because Ivory Coast have seen us and we didn't see Ivory Coast but the way we went about it, I think we should give praise to the boys and the entire technical crew for mapping out the strategy to win emphatically by five goals to one.
''But either Ghana, Niger or Togo, we have already seen them so we know how to approach that game.
''The most important thing is to win the next game because it is going to be a knockout stage which is very strategic, a winner must emerge and by God's grace it is going to be Nigeria.''
Burkina Faso will face Ivory Coast on Sunday in a match that will determine who joins Nigeria in the semifinals from Group B.
However, any of the three teams in Group A can still make it to the semifinals as hosts Niger Republic top the group with two points from two games.
Togo and Ghana only need to play a score draw to eliminate host Niger Republic on Saturday.
However, any of the three teams in Group A can still make it to the semifinals as hosts Niger Republic top the group with two points from two games.
Togo and Ghana only need to play a score draw to eliminate host Niger Republic on Saturday.
Ifeanyi Emmanuel
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