Eaglets should beat New Zealand - FIFA chief, Warner, asserts

Ben Nwachuckwu, Abuja - 03.11.2009

TIME FOR CELEBRATION? ...
Golden Eaglets players celebrate their
success in one of the group matches.
Warner says the Nigerian team should
overcome New Zealand on Thursday.FIFA vice president and the chairman, organising committee of the U-17 World Cup, Jack Warner, on Monday, declared that the Golden Eaglets have no reason not to beat New Zealand in the round of 16 when both sides meet on Thursday.

Warner stated that he had no reason to shed tears for ousted Brazil and The Netherlands from the ongoing FIFA U-17 World Cup, Nigeria 2009, saying that there is no guarantee for any country to be in the final.

Fielding questions from the media during a briefing to evaluate the competition so far, Warner said the aim of FIFA was to develop the game of football universally and that the big countries were being beaten in the competition meant that the aim was being fast achieved.

“The level of football has changed because of FIFA developmental programmes. Let me say to you also that no country has the automatic right to be in the finals; no country has any automatic right to even stay in the finals. And therefore I shed no tear for Brazil or Holland for the fact that they have to go home,” he stated.

“You will see more of this even in the higher level and therefore, I want to commend those countries that are here but I have to commend the LOC for bringing us to this point and having overcome those challenges that bedeviled it at the beginning.

“I am even more happy for you Nigerians when you considered that many of the supporters booed the Nigerian team and even began to walk out on the team in Abuja, it was a shame but I am very happy that the Nigerian team has qualified and are topping the group convincingly to the point that they are now matched against New Zealand. If Nigeria does not beat New Zealand then it shouldn’t be here at all.”

Round of 16 Pairings

Argentina vs Colombia
– Gateway Stadium, Ijebu-Ode (Wednesday, 4pm)

Turkey vs UAE
– Nnamdi Azikiwe Stadium, Enugu (Wednesday, 7pm)

Switzerland vs Germany
- Teslim Balogun Stadium, Lagos (Wednesday, 7pm)

Italy vs USA
- Ahmadu Bello Stadium, Kaduna (Wednesday, 4pm)

Spain vs Burkina Faso
- Sani Abacha Stadium, Kano (Thursday, 4pm)

Iran vs Uruguay
- UJ Esuene Stadium, Calabar (Thursday, 7pm)

Mexico vs Korea Republic
- Tafawa Balewa Stadium, Bauchi (Thursday, 4pm)
Nigeria vs New Zealand
- National Stadium, Abuja (Thursday, 7pm)