BY JACOB AJOM
After a dominant performance against Guatenala on Sunday, the Flying Eagles of Nigeria will on Thursday(2.a.m) file out against Croatia in the second group match of the 2011 FIFA U-20 World Cup in Columbia.

When the Nigerian flag bearers were  netting five past a hapless Guatemalan side in their opening game, their opponents in tomorrow’s encounter, Croatia were downed 2 – 0 by Saudi Arabia.

Former Nigeria internationals, Silvanus Okpala and Peter Rufai have advised Coach John Obuh to be wary of the Croatian threat as they would come out smoking and firing on all cylinders to check the rampant Nigerian players.

While Okpala appreciated the commanding victory the Flying Eagles had over Guatemala, he warned, “the players should realise that they still have a number of matches to play before knowing their fate in the competition,”

He advised that the players must put the result of the first match behind them and plot the path for progress in the tournament. “Against Croatia, it is going to be different. The Croats know that anything less than victory will see them make an early return to Zagreb, so they will want to put their survival in the competition in the front burner,” Okpala warned.

In the same vein, former number one Super Eagles goalkeeper, Peter Rufai said the Flying Eagles must  realise that their next opponents will be desperate because they  are down already.

“The boys had a very impressive performance against Guatemala but I will advise the coach to concentrate on the tactical approach,” Rufai said, adding that “if they rush the Croatians as they did their first opponents, I fear the Central Europeans will want to use counter attack to destabilise

the Nigerian defence. Obuh must tidy his rear and maintain the tactical approach we saw in the first match.”

Rufai said the Eagles should not allow the massive victory over Guatemala get int their heads. “They must keep their cool because Croatians are hard fighters and very determined people.”

U-20 World Cup Today’s Matches

Colombia vs Mali              2:00am
Portugal vs Cameroon              2:00 am
Ecuador vs Spain              11:00 pm
S/Arabia vs Guatemala          11:00pm
4/08/11
Croatia vs Nigeria               2:00 am