Green spoke as the African champions cruised into the south-western town of Cali for tomorrow’s potentially explosive quarter final clash with European champions France.
“We are here as the champions of Africa and we want to return to our country and continent as the champions of the world. We know it would not be easy, but we have prepared this team very well for the challenge. The Nigeria Government has spent a lot of money to get the team ready and we are happy with the results that have come so far.
“Yet, we would only be truly satisfied when the captain of our team lifts the trophy inside the main stadium in Bogota on Saturday evening”, said Green, who is also a member of the Executive Committee of the Nigeria Football Federation.
The Flying Eagles, who swept to the continental title in South Africa, early May, have the most impressive record at the on-going FIFA U-20 World Cup, with 13 goals for and only two against, and four matches won out of four.
Yet, Green and Head Coach Sam John Obuh refused to show over-confidence when confronted with the inevitable question of whether they are already looking forward to the final match.
Green said: “We have a team that is good enough to go all the way but we are taking it one match at a time and we believe we will be there. But on our radar now is France, the champions of Europe. A confrontation between the champions of Africa and the champions of Europe should provide the competition with some real gloss”.
Also commenting, Flying Eagles Head Coach Sam John Obuh said: “I have always said we have to take it one at a time. We have won four matches and we have three left. Surely, we are going for the Cup, but the present challenge is France and we have to conquer that to be able to go further”.
The Nigeria team arrived in the mountains-ringed cultural capital of this South American nation just before 2pm Thursday afternoon (8pm Nigeria time) and settled quickly into the impressive Intercontinental Cali.
