Nigeria Press Conference Jolomi & Chelsea Starlet : Every Word On Angola Team, Defensive Lapses, Spirit In Camp, Main Objective & More

Nigeria U17s assistant coach Jolomi Atume and Chelsea starlet Adrian Akande faced the cameras ahead of Wednesday afternoon's U17 Africa Cup of Nations Group A fixture against Angola.

The game is a crucial one as the winner will qualify for the 2019 FIFA U17 World Cup as well as the semifinals of the U17 AFCON.

With the Golden Eaglets conceding four goals in their opening match against Tanzania, unsurprisingly, most of the questions centered around their defensive frailties.

Here's every word Atume and Akande told the media at the pre-match press conference :

Important game knowing that if you win the game, not only you are in the semifinal but you are in the World Cup. How important is this game against Angola?

JA : ''Thank you. The game against Angola is a cup final for us because we know winning this game will take us to the World Cup.

''We know the Angola team is a very tough side, good offensively. We saw them play in Antalya.  By the grace of God, three points is ours tomorrow.''

It was a difficult game you won, how is the motivation and spirit in camp going into this second game?

AA :  ''I think the motivation and spirit is really high. Tanzania were a very tough team, we are proud to get the three points.''

In order to win you must be able also to protect your house. We can see that you won against Tanzania but you conceded four goals, what are you going to do?

JA : ''We have seen the errors, by the Grace of God, we'll work towards it. You have to look at our team as a new team because we have five new players in the team.

''You know that this is something drastic, it's not just easy to blend after losing five players.''

Defensive lapses in the team in the first game, knowing that this is an U17 tournament, obviously very young players. How difficult is it for you to find the balance for the players to express themselves, an attack-minded team, and also at the same time be disciplined?

JA : ''Thank you. I am not new, my head coach Manu Garba has won this Championship twice as a coach, one as assistant coach and the other one as head coach and then me under him.

''He is very, very experienced in this area, youth development. We know as youths they want to express themselves. They will want to. ''

This game holds your ticket to the semifinals and World Cup not only for Nigeria but also for Angola. What challenges are you expecting in this fixture. You said that one of their strengths is they are good offensively, how are you going to balance, the goals you conceded in the other fixture?

JA : ''Like I said before, we know the Angolans they are good offensively and we have worked on the strategies to make sure we curtail them but to be sincere I will tell you the game is open.

''Anybody can win but I pray Nigeria wins. It's a big challenge, it can go either way. ''

What is your objective? Qualifying for the World Cup or winning the trophy?

JA : ''The first objective is qualifying for the World Cup. After qualifying for the World Cup any other thing can add to it but our main objective is getting to the World Cup as African champions. ''

This is for you Adrian, obviously you are Chelsea trained. What is the biggest difference in terms of the competitive level from your club coming to this tournament?

AA : ''The biggest difference I would say is the physicality because the teams have a lot of strength so I think that is the biggest difference. ''

You watched the other game against Uganda, as players what do you think you need, especially the commitment of the game, to get a positive result?

AA : ''I think we just need to relax more. I think if we play the way we can play there is no reason we can't get the three points.

''As the coach said, Angola are a good side, but we are also a good side. I think that if we play the way we can play by being disciplined in defense, then we'll get the three points.''

What are your ambitions in this particular tournament and how do you see the next match?

JA : ''You are welcome my brother, you are just coming in. The next game, I will continue to say it is a must-win game for us but the game is open, anybody can win.

''But remember Nigeria is five-time world champions, so for you to play the world champion, you know what to expect. Thank you.''

AA: ''Obviously, our first objective is to qualify for the World Cup. Therefore, next game is an important game because if you win that you go to the semifinals then to qualify for the World Cup, that's the main objective.

''After tomorrow's game, we can't rest on our laurels, we want to go to the World Cup as champions of Africa, so the next game is important.

''Even after the next game, we still want to keep winning. Our  objective after tomorrow's game is to win each and every game and qualify as African champions. Tomorrow is the start.''

Ifeanyi Emmanuel

Photo Credit : cafonline.com