Ahead of the West African Football Union (WAFU B) U17 tournament opener against host Ghana this Saturday in Accra, coach of Nigeria U17 side Golden Eaglets Nduka Ugbade has expressed his worries about the team, Nigeriasoccernet can report.
Nduka Ugbade in an interview with BSNSports ahead of today's group A opener against the hosts made it known that crop of the players in the team have not played in a major competition that has up to 20,000 or 30,000 fans.
"I'm practically worried because most of these guys have not played in stadium where you have 20000 to 30000 fans in major competition," he said.
Nduka Ugbade however made it known that despite the challenges, he has prepared them psychologically for the game and tournament.
"Some of this things affect them but I have been preparing them psychologically considering what they might be facing in Ghana because I know when Nigeria is playing against them their stadium will be filled with the expectations of what is going to happen between the two country as on rivalry."
In the two groups tournament, Nigeria will face host Ghana and Togo in group A while group B has Ivory Coast, Benin Republic, Burkina Faso and Niger Republic.
The two finalist of the tournament will represent the zone in the African U17 Nations Cup while the four semifinalists from the Nations Cup will take part in the U17 World Cup.