Flying Eagles’ Coach, Paul Aigbogun has made a plea to Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) to ensure his side get some international friendly matches to help them prepare well for the FIFA U-20 World Cup in Poland, sports247.ng reported.
The former Warri Wolves and Enyimba of Aba gaffer admitted his side disappointed Nigeria by failing to finish in the top-three bracket at the Africa U-20 Cup of Nations, but argued that one of their minuses ahead of the competition was their failure to play good build-up matches.
Aigbogun was now spurring for a change of tact heading into Poland 2019, which was billed to begin in May, as reckoned that the quality of build-up matches his team are able to play would determine how well they will perform when the chips come down at the Youth Mundial.
While apologising for failing to win the U-20 AFCON, which ended last weekend in Niger Republic, Aigbogun stressed that the way forward now is for the NFF to help his side get quality friendlies.
Aigbogun stated: ‘Now that we are in the World Cup, we need to play quality matches that would help us make a credible impact at that level.
“I must say we are sorry for not reaching the final of the U20 AFCON, (but) I must thank God that we qualified for the World Cup.
“My second target was winning the junior AFCON in Niger, which did not work out as planned.
“We actually prepared well at home, but we needed quality international friendly matches before the championship.”