Garba optimistic despite Eaglets' defeat

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Garba optimistic despite Eaglets' defeat

The U-17 handler is upbeat about his side's chances for the second leg of their qualifier against the Junior Menas despite their warm up defeat

Nigeria U-17 coach Manu Garba has insisted there is no cause for alarm after seeing his side lose 2-1 to the Diamond Football Academy in a warm-up friendly ahead of the second leg clash between his team and Niger in Niamey next week.

The Golden Eaglets won the first leg 1-0 in Abuja and despite losing to the Umuahia-based Academy, the tactician believes there is cause for optimism ahead of next week’s encounter against the Junior Menas.

"We have to take some positives away from the defeat to Diamond because they were forceful and they gave us stiff opposition," Garba told the NFF website.

"Though we lost 2-1, we were able to test some new players in different positions because we need to ascertain their fitness before picking the final team for the match against Niger.

“We still have work to do especially on the finishing line before the return leg in Niamey and by the grace of God, we shall come out unscathed and qualify for the next stage of the qualifying series.”

Eaglets' captain Abduljabar Sani opened the scoring for Garba’s side in the seventh minute, but a second half rally courtesy of goals from George Chukwuemeka and Ugonna Onwuamaeze in the 61st and 85th minute respectively saw Diamond Academy snatch victory in the friendly played at the NFF/Fifa Goal Project Pitch in Abuja.