{"id":5289,"date":"2013-06-21T06:26:49","date_gmt":"2013-06-21T06:26:49","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/disnaija.com\/nigerian-newspapers\/flying-eagles-not-under-pressure-ajagun\/"},"modified":"2013-06-21T06:26:49","modified_gmt":"2013-06-21T06:26:49","slug":"flying-eagles-not-under-pressure-ajagun","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/disnaija.com\/flying-eagles-not-under-pressure-ajagun\/","title":{"rendered":"Flying Eagles not under pressure \u2014 Ajagun"},"content":{"rendered":"
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Flying Eagles skipper Abduljaleel Ajagun has said the team are not under pressure at the U20 World Cup in Turkey.<\/p>\n

Nigeria failed to retain their African Youth Championship in Algeria in April and they struggled at the recent Toulon International Tournament in France.<\/p>\n

But Ajagun has assured his team will rise to the occasion when it matters most in Turkey.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe\u2019re not under pressure and we hope to give our best for Nigeria,\u201d declared Ajagun at a pre-match briefing before today\u2019s opening Group B match against Portugal in Kayseri.<\/p>\n

Nigeria begin their World Cup campaign tonight inside the smart football arena called the Kayseri Kadir Has Stadium.<\/p>\n

Turkey 2013 will be their 10th appearance at the U20 World Cup, where their best result has been runners-up in 1989 and 2005.<\/p>\n

In a total of 44 matches in this biennial competition, they have won 18, drawn 10 and lost 16. They have also scored 63 goals and conceded 56 goals.<\/p>\n

Coach John Obuh said he hopes for an improvement in Turkey on the country\u2019s previous outings.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe have come here with a purpose and we won\u2019t disappoint Nigeria and Africa as a whole,\u201d promised the coach, who led the team to the quarterfinals two years ago in Colombia.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe are therefore looking forward to improve on our previous records.\u201d<\/p>\n

Nigeria face a Portugal side, who two weeks beat them 2-1 at the Toulon International Tournament.<\/p>\n

\u201cThat gave us an opportunity to look at them and they also looked at us. So, it was a big advantage for both teams,\u201d maintained Obuh.<\/p>\n

\u201cThey are a team with character and we hope our strategy based on what we learnt about them will work in the match.\u201d<\/p>\n

Ajagun is one of three players from the 2011 World Cup and Obuh said he hopes their experience will carry his team in Turkey.<\/p>\n

\u201cThey have the experience to help this team, but they also have to prove that with their performance here,\u201d said Obuh.<\/p>\n

Meanwhile, Peruvian referee Victor Corrollo will be in charge of this game.<\/p>\n

The Flying Eagles will sport all-green jerseys, while Portugal will wear all-white.<\/p>\n

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Posted in Nigerian Newspapers. <\/a>A DisNaija.Com<\/a> network.<\/p>\n

Source: The Nation Newspaper<\/p>\n

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