MATCH OF THE DAY The schedule Semi-final - 5 November Sweden-Nigeria 5PM NIGERIAN TIME (Dubai, Rashid Stadium, 20:00 local time) The match -PREVIEW Nigeria enter the match as favourites to maintain their unbeaten run. Alongside Argentina, the African giants are the only team to progress this far without a loss to their name. The Golden Eaglets dominated Group F before knocking out both Iran and Uruguay, and though their draw with Sweden could be seen as a slight stumble, their impressive displays of footballing prowess have drawn praise from opponents. Brazil coach Alexandre Gallo described Nigeria as, “a strong side who play a similar game to the Brazilians. Their style is what we call football!” Opponents Sweden will be looking to neutralize Nigeria’s attacking threat while taking whatever chances come their way, just as they did at the Sheikh Zayed Stadium in Dubai. Despite only qualifying from the group stage as one of the best-ranked third-placed teams, they went on to spring one of the heists of the tournament by knocking out Japan before overturning a deficit against Honduras to win 2-1. They join the Netherlands, Turkey and Switzerland as one of only four European teams to ever reach the U-17 World Cup semi-finals on debut. But it is Switzerland, the side that won the title on their debut, that the Swedes will be looking to emulate. Nigeria’s offensive flair should be on full display. Coach Manu Garba has selected the goal-hungry duo of Kelechi Iheanacho and Musa Yahaya alongside Taiwo Awoniyi, who proved himself an excellent replacement for the injured Success Isaac when he knocked in a brace against Uruguay in the quarter-finals. Feel Free to share Twitter: @loudmouth9geria
Posted on: Tue, 05 Nov 2013 09:15:35 +0000
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