Ex-Super Eagles winger, Dimeji Lawal is optimistic that the Nigeria U20 national team, Flying Eagles will qualify from group D of the 2023 FIFA U20 World Cup.
Two times World Cup finalists, Flying Eagles were drawn in group of Death with Brazil, Italy and Dominican Republic.
Despite the tough opponents, Dimeji Lawal who was part of the Nigeria U20 team that lost to Portugal in the final of the FIFA U20 World Cup hosted by Saudi Arabia in 1989 said Italy and Brazil posed no threats to the 2015 African champions in as much as the coach parades the best legs to represent the 2005 World Cup finalist in Argentina.
He said, “I was part of the team that played against Italy in the quarter-final of the FIFA U20 World Cup in Saudi Arabia in 1989b and we won them. So, for me, I don’t think both teams (Brazil and Italy) are threats.” Dimeji Lawal exclusively told BSN Sports.
He continued, “But it depends on how they prepared and how honest the coach is with his team. The coach should grow above influences and get the best legs to represent Nigeria. We have enormous talents capable of beating any team in the world. If we defeated Italy in the quarter final 1989 and Nigeria beat Brazil in 1996 at the Olympic hosted USA, then I see no reason why this team can beat the two teams to qualify for the knock-out stage.”
“Once the coach can present the best legs in Nigeria at the world cup, I am telling you, nothing can stop them.” He concluded.
The 2023 FIFA U-20 World Cup will be the 23rd edition of the FIFA U-20 World Cup, the biennial international men’s youth football championship contested by the under-20 national teams of the member associations of FIFA, since its inception in 1977 as the FIFA World Youth Championship.
In the round of sixteen, the four best third-placed teams will be matched with the winners of groups A, B, C, and D. The specific match-ups involving the third-placed teams depend on which four third-placed teams qualify for the round of sixteen.
The championship which will be hosted by Argentina kicks off 20th May and ends 11th June, 2023.
