The venue of today’s semi-final clash between Nigeria and Mexico was the venue where the Nigeria’s star-studded U-20 squad of 1987 met their waterloo following a humiliating 4-0 loss to Brazil at the FIFA U-20 World Cup Chile 1987.
Twenty-eight years after what was called the ‘Chile debacle’ by a section of the Nigerian media, the Golden Eaglets will hoist the Nigerian flag in Concepción yet again for a crunch semi-final match against Mexico at the ongoing FIFA U-17 World Cup Chile 2015, with the winner guaranteed a slot in the final match slated for Sunday in Vina del Mar.
Speaking to thenff.com, Coach Emmanuel Amuneke said the unfortunate loss by the Flying Eagles 28 years ago in Concepcion will be an added motivation to guide the Golden Eaglets against defeat to the Baby El Tri today.
“Sincerely, I can’t remember anything about Chile 1987 and I don’t want to be bothered about that,” said the straight-talking 1994 African Footballer of the Year about Nigeria-Brazil clash of October 11, 1987. “But that said, we can’t afford to lose (at the same venue) to Mexico and this is an important game for us.”
Nigeria and Mexico have only met thrice at the FIFA U-17 World Cup, with the Baby El Tri claiming a 1-0 win in a group phase match at Canada 1987 while the Golden Eaglets had the upper hand twice in 2013, when they walloped the Mexicans 6-1 and 3-0 in the group phase and the championship’s final match respectively.
Meanwhile, Amuneke was honoured on Tuesday with an award by the Chiguayante community in Concepcion. The award, according to the organizers, was in recognition of the Golden Eaglets’ Head Coach’s feat in leading a team to qualify for the FIFA U-17 World Cup Chile 2015.
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