U17 AFCON: Burkina Faso will be difficult — Golden Eaglets coach, Ugbade

Golden Eaglets coach Nduka Ugbade has admitted his Golden Eaglets are set for a difficult time against Burkina Faso in Algiers.

Nigeria and Burkina Faso battle for a place in the next FIFA World Cup when they take to the pitch in the quarter finals of the U17 AFCON on Thursday.

The Eaglets finished second in Group B while the junior Stallions defeated defending champions Cameroon in their last game to seal their place in the last eight as one of two losers.

The stakes are higher for these two, with a place in the U17 AFCON semifinals and a ticket to the next FIFA World Cup up for grabs.

Nigeria and Burkina Faso clash again after an intense battle between them at the WAFU Zone B qualifications.

The Golden Eaglets came out on top in that fixture after a 2-1 victory in the final.

However, according to coach Ugbade, while his Eaglets are motivated all the way, he admits that the game against Stallions will be a difficult one.

“This match will be important for us as it will qualify us for the World Cup,” Ugbade told CAF Online.

“Burkina Faso has a really good team and we have played against them before and we experienced a very difficult match. We expect it to be the same in the quarter final.”

Speaking further on the game, the former Nigeria international added that his players are aware of what is at stake and have been told they must be willing to take the bull by the horn.

“My message before the match to the players is that these competitions are usually intense,” he added.

“And I told them we must have the will and play the match as it should, and stressed that winning makes us qualify for the World Cup.”