Sweden coach backs Golden Eaglets to win U-17 World Cup

Coach of Sweden’s Under-17 team, Roland Larsson, is tipping the Golden Eaglets of Nigeria to defeat Mexico in the final of the U-17 World Cup on Friday and become champions.

Larsson could not nothing from the bench, as the Eaglets ran riot against his boys in Tuesday’s semi-final, beating them 3-0 to qualify for the grand finale.

“I think they are the favourites to win the trophy,” Larsson told a correspondent of Vanguard in the UAE.

“They have been so unbelievable here playing some good attacking football, they are my favourites to win the Final and hope they achieve all the success they can get because they deserve it.

“I believe the Nigerians are the world champions already and expect them to justify it having defeated Mexico once in the group stage.”

If Nigeria wins the competition, it will be for a record fourth time.

Kanu Drums Support for Golden Eaglets to Win World Cup.

Former Super Eagles skipper Nwankwo
Kanu has tipped the Nigeria under-17 side,
Golden Eaglets, to make it past the group
stage of the 2013 FIFA U-17 World Cup in
the United Arab Emirate (UAE).


Nwankwo Kanu.

Kanu was one of the few players who
witnessed Monday’s draw ceremony at the
Hotel Fairmont Bab AL Bahr where the
Eaglets were drawn in Group F alongside
Mexico, and debutantes, Iraq and Sweden. The former FIFA U-17 World Cup winner in
1993 lauded the world football governing
body for recognising his achievement at
world youth football level. “I’m happy that FIFA noted my previous
achievement at the U-17 World Cup as we
won it in 1993,” the two-time African Player
of the Year said. “But I’ll be happier if the present squad go
all the way to win the championship again in
the UAE.” Nigeria opens their campaign against
defending champion, Mexico, on October 19
and moves on to play Iraq and Sweden on
October 22 and 25 respectively. “I have great confidence in this team and I
want to implore the coaches to drum it to
the ears of the players that winning the first
game against Mexico is very important. “Winning that first game against Mexico will
boost their confidence and I believe that will
set the tone for every other thing they will
do at the competition,” Kanu added. “We have to belief that these boys can do it,
I mean winning the World Cup in the UAE. “But we must support them positively with
words of encouragement, prayers and by
the grace of God I will be there to lend my
own support.”