Chief Coach of the national U-20 team Manu Garba says his team can win the forthcoming FIFA World Youth Championship (WYC) slated to hold later this month in New Zealand, if everything goes according to plan.

Garba who spoke to Sports Vanguard from Germany where the team is currently undergoing a training tour ahead of the championship said he has the right quality of players that can handle any team at the tournament.

Manu Garba, head coach of Nigeria ponders during the FIFA U17 group F match between Sweden and Nigeria at Khalifa Bin Zayed Stadium on October 22, 2013 in Al Ain, United Arab Emirates. Photo by FIFA

He however insisted that to achieve the desired result, all the players must be ready to play with high dedication and adhere strictly to instruction from the technical bench.

The coach who also won the FIFA U-17 cadet championship in 2013 as well as the African Youth Championship (AYC) this year said; “we are going to New Zealand to win and if everything goes as planned, it will not be a difficult task because we have the players that can give us the desired result. All we need from Nigerians is their constant prayers and hopefully, we will not let them down.”

On the anticipated arrival of Man City youngster Kelechi Iheanacho and Spain based Isaac Promise, Garba insisted that there will be no automatic shirt for any player hence they must prove that they are better than the boys already in camp.

“I have said it before that there will be no automatic shirt for any player, even as we expect Iheanacho and Isaac, they must prove that they are better any of the boys already in camp. Nobody will be selected based on past performances, we are counting on what a player can do for the team at the moment.”

Garba who left Nigeria over the weekend with 26 players will play his first match of the championship on June 1st against Brazil.

Eagles frighten Brazil

Five-time U20 World Cup champions Brazil have admitted they expect African champions Nigeria to cause them some problems at the tournament in New Zealand.

Brazil open their U20 World Cup campaign on June 1 against the Flying Eagles in New Plymouth.

“Nigeria always cause us problems,” Gallo said. “They’re a strong team, technically good with good players,” remarked Brazil coach Alexandre Gallo.

The two teams last clashed at this tournament in 2005, when the group game ended in a draw.

Gallo also commented on his team’s other first round opponents, Hungary and North Korea.

Flying Eagles

“Hungary have a typically European style – direct football, tall players. North Korea don’t have very technical players, but they close you down a lot, they have speed and counter-attack intensely,” he said.

Brazil placed fourth at the South American qualifiers and will begin training camp on May 16 when they fly out to Australia.

Manchester United playmaker Andreas Pereira and Real Madrid forward Jean Carlos have been named on a 26-player provisional squad.

However, there was no space for 17-year-old Fluminense midfielder Gerson, Corinthians boy wonder Malcom and Santos striker Gabriel, 18, as Gallo opted for more experience following a forgettable campaign in the South American qualifiers.

Other interesting names in the squad are Marseille prospect Alef, Atletico Paranaense’s prolific attacking midfielder Marcos Guilherme and Fluminense trick machine Kenedy.

“We called up committed players who have experience representing their country and have their careers shaped,” explained Gallo. “We need players who are fully focused on our targets.”