By John Egbokhan  reporting from Dubai

Iran’s coach Ali Doustimehr on Tuesday cast doubts over the true ages of the Golden Eaglets who defeated the Iranians 4-1 in a round of 16 match held at the Khalifa Bin Zayed Stadium in Al Ain.

Dazed with the battering handed his boys by the Coach Manu Garba-tinkered Nigerian side, the Iranian coach, when asked to talk of his assessment of the match, said his experience as coach for 30 years makes him to believe that the Nigerians were not teenagers. This is an Under-17 tournament.

“As a national coach for 30 years and having worked with young players in the last 20 years, my experience tells me that these Nigerians are not teenagers”,  said the coach, who later beat a sublime retreat when he added that “I am not saying that the Eaglets are over the age or under the stipulated age but they showed so much experience against us that makes me to feel that they are too strong to be teenagers”.

While later congratulating the Eaglets for qualifying for the quarterfinal, the Iranian coach said that with such experienced players for Nigeria that the future of Nigerian football was bright.

“Congratulations to the Nigerians and I see a bright future for Nigeria if they continue with these players who have shown a lot of experience”.