Ahead of the make or mar clash with the Black Starlets of Ghana on Saturday, President of the Nigeria Football Federation, Mr Amaju Melvin Pinnick has charged Nigeria’s U17 Boys, Golden Eaglets to show robust winning mentality against their opponents.

Pinnick charged the players to believe in themselves and go for victory when he visited the team’s camp at the Hotel Novella Star in Lome, Togo, while admonishing the players to remain focused in the task of representing Nigeria very well at the tournament.

“Nigerians don’t want to know about tactics, just go, play and win the game. The mentality of Nigerians is winning, they don’t care how you win, just win. Winning gives Nigerians a lot of joy,” Pinnick said.

“So, I just want to crave your indulgence to represent Nigeria well. I’m happy that I can see all the players in this U 17 team, I can see that we have the youngest team in this tournament, which of course, I’m very proud of.

“It is a developmental football af this level. It does not mean that we do not want to win. Nigerians wants you to win so that you will be celebrated. We want you to be celebrated, it is very important that we must win. Just work hard and ensure we beat Ghana. The attitude we always display is that we can do it. That is the spirit under my leadership in the Nigeria Football Federation and that is what we expect from you.

“Your coach will tell you the technical and tactical way to achieve winning, but what I will tell you is that you are Nigerians and for you be a Nigerian, you must be positively rugged to achieve your dream,” he said.

Rangers will host Kara in the second leg of the final knockout stages on Sunday after suffering 1-2 in the first leg last Sunday.

Adedipe who made his career continental bow with the Flying Antelopes in Lome noted that booking the group stage ticket is not negotiable as both players and officials were aware of task ahead.

“I’m very optimistic that come on Sunday we will finish the good work we started in Togo, its unfortunate we lost the match, but we’ve taken the positives and move on from there.

“We’re going back to Enugu to perfect our strategies ahead of the second leg, the coaches and the players are aware of the task ahead so we will leave no stoned unturned.

“I’m very confident and optimistic we will get it right too book the Group Stage ticket,” he said
Asked how excited he was to play his first continental match, the former Sunshine Stars’ key man said “It was a pleasure for me to have my continental debut for Rangers in Togo, It was a great experience to participate in the continental football, though sad it ended in defeat but I will cherish it for long and hoping to have more of it with positive results.

Adedipe joined Rangers from Rivers United at the end of last season after spending just a season with the Portharcourt side.