Utin Leads Flying Eagles’ Battle Cry For Victory Against Qatar On Friday

Nigeria’s youth national team, Flying Eagles’ captain, Ikouwm Udoh Utin is leading the battle cry, ahead of their opening match against Qatar at this year’s FIFA U-20 World Cup in Poland.

The Enyimba of Aba left-back stated at the Flying Eagles’ camp in Vienna House Hotel in Katowice that he and his teammates are determined to start the competition on a glorious note on Friday, by beating Qatar at the 15,300 capacity Tychy Stadium in Slask region of Poland.

Friday’s game kicks off at 5pm Nigeria time, to be followed right after by the second match of Group D at same venue, between Ukraine and USA, which will begin at 7.30pm, but Utin says their only focus is on Qatar.

Megasportsarena.com reports that, heading into their opening group match, Utin and his teammates have been reminded that Qatar got to the competition’s final in 1981 and were hosts in 1995, but they should also note that Nigeria has several exciting moments to cherish in the Youth Mundial’s history.

A pre-match press release by the information department of Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) recalled that the old Soviet Union won the first edition of the event, then known as World Youth Championship, in Tunisia in 1977.

Six years later, Tarila Okoronwanta’s first half goal condemned the same old Soviet Union to defeat in Monterrey, Mexico, in Nigeria’s first ever match at the competition.

In 1985, Monday Odiaka scored a standing record early goal, after only 14 seconds, against Canada in a group phase match.

At the same tournament, reserve goalkeeper, Christian Obi thwarted hosts Soviet Union in the penalty shoot-out of the third place match to hand the bronze medals to the Flying Eagles.

Nigeria went on to claim a first ever silver medal in the competition under the tutelage of Coach Tunde Disu (OFR), in The Damman Miracle squad of Saudi ’89.

In the quarter finals, the Flying Eagles came back from 0-4 down to defeat the same old Soviet Union after penalty shoot-out.

That feat was equaled by Coach Samson Yebowei Siasia’s team that featured John Mikel, Taye Ismaila Taiwo, Chinedu Obsi et al at Holland 2005, when they lost the final 2-1 to Lionel Messi’s inspired Argentina.

Obasi’s ‘television friendly’ opening goal unsettled Argentina in the final in Utrecht, but two penalty kicks by Messi gave the South Americans victory in Amsterdam.

Utin and his colleagues will, therefore, be chasing history when they line out at Tychy Stadium against Qatar on Friday evening, knowing that only maximum points would put their cart on the right path to glory..

The Flying Eagles’ captain, who has been capped by the home-based Eagles and under-23 national team, said: “It is a big match for us, as every other match in this competition.

“We know the importance of picking up the three points in our first match, which is why we are determined to go all out.

“Taking the first three points will help us plan our approach better for the remaining matches in the group phase, and boost our confidence.”