Fifa Under-17 World Cup: Mutual respect reigns between coaches

Manu Garba, the head coach of Nigeria, on Thursday praised their Fifa Under-17 World Cup final opponents Mexico for making an impressive recovery from losing the opening game between the two sides 6-1.

“They are almost a different team and have improved greatly since we first met them in the opener,” Garba said in a press conference on Thursday. “The fact that they defeated Brazil and Argentina speaks volumes for them.

“We are ready, well prepared and raring to go in the final. Our objective was to win the trophy and now we are in the final. We enter the final knowing that there is only one cup and the winner will take it and we want that cup and will play accordingly.”

Meanwhile, Raul Gutierrez, the head coach of Mexico, believes that Nigeria are stronger than Brazil and Argentina, whom his team beat en route to the final.

“They are in the final which means that they are stronger than all the other teams who did not make it to this stage,” Gutierrez said. But we are prepared for them and we are not scared of them despite the fact that they defeated us 6-1 in the opener and we have benefited from that lesson.”

“We are happy and proud to be in this stage for the second time in succession and believe me it will be a real tough challenge for both teams.”