WAFU U17: John Obuh Throws Weight Behind Golden Eaglets To Defeat Ghana

  WAFU U17: John Obuh Throws Weight Behind Golden Eaglets To Defeat Ghana By Niyi Busari Former Golden Eaglets coach, John Obuh is optimistic that the Golden Eaglets will defeat Ghana in their last group B match on Saturday, BSNSports.com.ng reports. The former Eaglets coach said that Nigerians always bring out the best in them when they're written off. He stated that losing the first match to Cote d'Ivoire will affect the confidence of the players but hope the coach will work on the players before today's game against Ghana. "In that kind of tournament particularly in the underage, winning the first game is very important because that brings encouragement to go further in the competition. But if they lose the first, it affects their confidence ahead of the second game. However, one thing about Nigeria players is that once they're pushed to wall, they have a way of reacting positively and that's what I am expecting the boys to do. Having lost the first game, the second game required victory. I am sure the coach must have made them understand this. Don't forget the fact that they're experiencing their first international game, so, if you don't handle their psyche very well, you'll have an issue because all of them are feeling bad. "But they just have to push at the side and see the opportunity to qualify for the Nations Cup and proceed to play for the Super Eagles. He urged the Nigeria Football Federation to restore the payment of bonus and allowance of all underage national teams. "In fact, to be honest with you, having past through such stages, these players, if you see what they do with the bonus and allowances they receive. You will find out that in Nigeria, there are so much load on the shoulders of any national team player irrespective of their ages. At their tender age, they have become the brad winners of thee families, even if they're the third or fourth child, they have automatically become the bread winner of the family. "I think if they can restore that kind of decision, by restoring their wages and the allowances, that will go a long way to actually help the players confidence. But having said that, they should as well try to understand that some times putting the monetary value at the beginning of their career may jeopardize their career. They should not puck too much interest in money at earlier stage and at the same they should be compensated for whatever they do for their country." John Obuh was in charge of Nigeria's under-17 national team during the 2009 FIFA U-17 World Cup. The five-time world champions lost 0-1 to Baby Elephants of Cote d'Ivoire on Wednesday and will face Ghana in their second group B later today. Anything than a win for Nigeria means the Golden Eaglets are out of the championship and not be part of the CAF U17 African Nations Cup.