Despite defeat to Brazil in their last group game, Flying Eagles head coach, Ladan Bosso, remains adamant that his team has what it takes to get to the final of the ongoing U-20 World Cup in Argentina, PUNCH Sports Extra reports.
Jean headed home the opener from a Marquinhos corner before the latter scored the second himself following a lightning counter-attack as Nigeria suffered a 2-0 defeat (their first loss at the tournament) in the La Plata stadium on Saturday.
The result means the Flying Eagles are yet to secure a victory over their Brazilian counterparts since they first met 40 years ago at Mexico ‘83.
Bosso’s lads, who had already qualified for a last-16 place after wins over the Dominican Republic and Italy, finished third in their Group D on goal difference.
Speaking to the media after the game, the 55-year-old tactician however refused to dwell on the defeat but insisted that his boys would fight for the trophy.
“The match has come and gone. Before this match, we were planning this match, we’d go back and prepare for the real game,” he said as regards the defeat against the five-time champions.
“We have to fight for the trophy. I think it is still open. Everybody can be there, and I believe we have the capacity to be there (the final).”
Nigeria, who placed third in Group D, will probably play either the tournament’s host, Argentina, or the United States.
Before their next game, Bosso said his team would review their strategy.
“We are into the knockout stage, and in the knockout stage, there is an approach, we can employ for it, and we hope we’d have our plans executed accordingly,” he said.