The Flying Eagles coach, Manu Garba, has said his team is ready not only for Germany but any team that may come their way at the ongoing FIFA U-20 World Cup.
Garba said on Sunday in New Plymouth, New Zealand that the Flying Eagles need to be ready for any team if they want to be champions.
The coach spoke to fifa.com moments after the Flying Eagles overran Hungary 2-0 to advance to the competition’s Round of 16.
Speaking on the win, Garba said the game was “a very good match for us.”
The Nigerians have thus set up a mouth-watering last-16 meeting with Germany after they leapfrogged the Magyars into second place in Group E with the win. They ended with six points from two wins and a loss from three games, after scoring eight and conceding four goals, with Brazil topping the group with nine points.
The Hungarians still qualified in third-place, as one of the best third-placed teams and will now kick off the knockout phase against Group D winners Serbia in Dunedin.
Nonetheless, they were well beaten at New Plymouth’s Taranaki Stadium, with Taiwo Awoniyi’s brace no more than the African champions deserved for their overall dominance.
The Flying Eagles were the better side throughout, neutralising four-goal forward, Bence Mervo, and providing a constant threat at the other end.
They would have taken the lead as early as the 16th minute but for an incredible save from Gyorgy Szekely.
He stuck out a strong right hand to put away Awoniyi’s powerful close range header.
The Hungary goalkeeper was merely delaying the inevitable though, and was helpless to prevent the deadlock from being broken 17 minutes later.
Awoniyi ghosted away from his marker to volley in at the near post from Saviour Godwin’s teasing low cross.
The Europeans rarely threatened a comeback but did produce one effort of note a few minutes into the second half.
Mario Nemeth was just a couple of inches away from a wonder goal, having taken aim from 30 yards and rattled the crossbar with Joshua Enaholo beaten.
However, the points and second place were secured in the 54th minute when Awoniyi doubled the score and his tally.
It was a goal neither Attila Osvath nor Akos Kecskes will want to watch again. The Hungary duo both went up for the same header at the halfway line, collided and missed the ball entirely.
Awoniyi could hardly believe his luck and, even though he still had some work to do, he did it in style.
He dribbled past a covering defender before rounding Szekely and tucking the ball into the unguarded net.
Speaking also after the game, Bernd Storck, the coach of Hungary, said his players were not at their best and could not have kept up with their opponents.
Source: NAN
