Nigeria Football Federation President, Amaju Pinnick has refused to criticize the Flying Eagles despite their qualification hopes hanging by a thread at the ongoing FIFA U20 World Cup following their 2-0 loss to the United States.

Pinnick has taken positives from their first two games in Poland and picked Manchester City midfielder Tom Dele-Bashiru and Enyimba's Ikouwem Udo Utin as the players who have caught his eye in the tournament so far.

''It's a developmental tournament, I believe in as much as possible you want to criticize the team, you find out there are a lot of pluses in the team,'' said Pinnick to TV Continental.

''Look at the boy from Manchester City (Dele-Bashiru), look at the other players. They are young, look at Utin the left full back. You know that in a few years, this guy will develop into the Super Eagles, that is what we are out for.

''These are developmental tournaments, the important thing is for them to be in the world stage.

''I am not saying we don't want to win this tournament, we want to win. The major reason is developmental.''