By Paul Bassey, Marakech

There is no doubt that Nigerians will expect the Golden Eaglets to win the 10th U-17 African Championship trophy this afternoon in Marakech, Morocco.

Why not? How can you react otherwise against a team that signaled its entry in the competition, by walloping Ghana 6-1?

Even when the same team fell to Cote d’Ivoire 0-1, the expectations were still high that the boys will come back against Congo and they did not disappoint.

Eaglets vs Ivory Coast during the group matches

In the semi final against Tunisia the Eaglets were three goals up in twelve minutes and the stadium started emptying only for the Tunisians to pull two back in quick succession, throwing panic into the hearts of otherwise over confident Nigerian spectators.

Against Tunisia, the Eaglets had their worse match to date, so much that even when they won 4-2, the victory was not considered good enough! Childish exuberance, lust for goals that necessitated the two central defenders overlapping at the same time, anger in the ranks, blame and counter blame, selfishness as Ihenacho and Success battled to emerge highest goals scorer to the corporate detriment of the team.

Over all loss of concentration and the coaches realized there is still much to do if this team must remain focused and not only win the cup, but go ahead to make Nigeria, nay Africa proud at the World Cup in Saudi Arabia in October as emphasized by Coach Garba Manu at the post match conference.

Christian Chukwu, member of NFF Technical Committee would have preferred Morocco for the final. “…in our days, even now, we know how to handle North Africans “ he said.

Not to be. The foes are co West Africans, Cote d’Ivoire, the only team that has so far remained unbeaten. Conquerors of the Golden Eaglets. Did the Tunisian Coach Ben Soltane Abdel Hay say the Eaglets won because the heat favoured them and they were more physical, stronger and faster? The Eaglets will not have such luxury against Cote d’Iivoire, bigger, faster? Stronger? You need to take a look at Chris Bedia and Anderson Niangbo to shudder.

Coach Ibrahima Kamara says his joker will be the intelligent Aboubakar Keita and that the Nigerians remain favourites. Mind games.

Since they arrived back to Marakech after beating the Moroccans in Cassablanca, the Ivoriens have developed a champion’s gait. In the hotel they walk tall. There is need to cut them to size.

Revenge may not be the word as revenge can be blindly irrational. All the Eaglets have to do is listen to their coaches, establish tactical and technical superiority, utilize set pieces and forget about the highest goalscorer award advantage team success.

The die is cast, 18.30 Nigerian time, the whistle will kick off the match of the tournament and Nigerians will expect nothing less than victory and in grand style too.