Two-goal hero Taiwo Awoniyi believes confidence will play a vital role for Nigeria when the Flying Eagles face Germany in one of today’s quarter final matches of the FIFA U-20 World Cup holding in New Zealand.
Awoniyi whose goals against Hungary set up this epic clash in Christchurch said the team’s self-belief will be crucial in the outcome of this match billed for this morning.
“It’s great that we have rediscovered our confidence and we are in the knockout stage of the World Cup,” he said.
“The wins against North Korea and Hungary after the loss to Brazil have boosted our self-belief to do even more.
“We have to work together as a team to meet up the challenge that Germany will pose against us.
“They have done well in the group stage and we just have to go out there and give our best against them.
“The key to victory against Germany is to have the confidence that we can do the job on the day, that no matter what we have to make our country and ourselves proud.”
Other players that spoke to Africafootball.com also voiced the same assurance of overcoming Germany to set up an all-African quarterfinal clash against Mali.
It will be a battle between the African champions and the champions from Europe with the Germans the more impressive in the group stage of the tournament having scored 16 goals and let in only two goals.
However, while Nigeria had to face the likes of five-champions Brazil and Hungary, Germany took apart Fiji, Honduras and Uzbekistan.
For coach Manu Garba he expects the competition to be a lot tougher in its business end.
“The second round will be a lot tougher because we are in the knockout stage. This is where if you made a mistake, you will go home,” he said.
“But we are very optimistic and very motivated to go through because our opening game against Brazil has taught us a very big lesson.
“After we lost against Brazil, we have improved match after match and I believe we will have a good game against Germany despite the fact that they are the highest scoring team of the group stage and they are European champions.
“They are a very good team, but we are capable of beating them to reach the quarterfinals.”
Incidentally, the Flying Eagles trained in Germany for three weeks before coming down to this World Cup.
Skipper Musa Mohammed will be available after he missed a day’s training over a tooth ache, so too injury concerns Kingsley Sokari and Ifeanyi Matthew.
El Kanemi Warriors midfielder Matthew has missed the last two games due to a deep cut in the foot against Brazil.
It will be a special contest for Germany skipper Kevin Akpoguma, whose father hails from Benin City in Nigeria and will be in the stands cheering his boy to glory.
Weather conditions will be more favourable to the Europeans as it could be as cold as 0 degrees on match day inside the Christchurch Regional Stadium, which was built after the earthquake in February 2011 killed 185 people.
Both countries have met twice at this competition and they claimed victory in a game apiece.
They first met in the group stage in 1999 when Nigeria hosted the competition and the hosts won 2-0 with goals from Ganiyu Shittu and Hashim Garba.
Their second meeting was at Egypt 2009 when Germany eliminated Nigeria led by coach Samson Siasia in the Round of 16 by 3-2. Nigeria’s goals were scored by Daniel Chima Uchechi and Rabiu Ibrahim.