Nigeria’s youth national team, Flying Eagles’ coach, Paul Aigbogun appears satisfied with his squad’s outing at this year’s FIFA U-20 World Cup in Poland, as he says they achieved the first objective he set out with them before heading to the championship.
Despite losing 2-1 to Senegal in the round of 16 on Monday night, megasportsarena.com reports that Aigbogun refused to be downcast, as the United Kingdom-trained tactician instead stated that his first target at Poland 2019 had been achieved by him and his players.
Although Aigbogun disclosed that reaching the last 16 in Poland was his first target, he hinted that he and his players had the desire to go much further in the championship, but put their exit down to some of the unpredictable circumstances that often happen in football matches.
While Nigerians fans and analysts remain critical of the team’s outing in Poland, with many critics questioning the coach’s coaching qualities and the ages of his players, Aigbogun appears non-pulsed, as he insists he returns home with some positives.
Among the positive Aigbogun is holding unto is that he reckons that the squad to Poland 2019 has thrown up some future prospects for the Super Eagles, as he believes a couple of the players in his side will go on to play for Nigeria’s senior national team.
He further opined that his players gave a good account of themselves in the game against Senegal, as he pointed out that the put the fellow-West Africans under pressure all through the second half of the second round encounter in Lodz, but posited that luck was against his wards.
Aigbogun added: ”Obviously I’m disappointed but also proud of the play. We put a lot of pressure on Senegal in the second half.
“It’s football. Sometimes you win, sometimes you lose. We wanted to go further.
“Last 16 was the first target. I think we showed one or two players who had ability and it’s most important.”
