Edafe Egbedi, Flying Eagles star, after the painful 3-2 extra-time quarter-final defeat to France believes the players have learnt their lessons as they look forward to bigger challenges. “We made a good impression. We played as a team throughout the competition and we stayed strong. We’re very pleased with the support that Colombia has given us and we feel right at home. They wanted us to win.”
Mixed in with the dejection is a sense of pride at Nigeria’s achievements at Colombia 2011. For the first time ever the Flying Eagles recorded four straight FIFA U-20 World Cup wins, scoring 15 goals in the process, thanks to a potent combination of searing pace, pure technique and ruthless finishing. Group opponents Croatia and Guatemala both fell to heavy defeats as the likes of Ahmed Musa, Olarenwaju Kayode and Egbedi served notice of their rich potential. “It was a game we could have won,” the forward continued, ruing his side’s misfortune against Les Bleus.
“Unfortunately for us, we weren’t on top of our game and we didn’t put France under the same pressure that we did other teams. We had high hopes but we left too much space and that’s why we’re sad. That’s football though. We showed we can go far if we work at it. Our dream was to win the title but I think we’ve learned a lot here, and the team will be more prepared by the time the next World Cup comes around.”
The diminutive striker can also be satisfied with his contribution to the Nigerian cause, building on his showing at the FIFA U-17 World Cup Nigeria 2009, where he scored three goals en route to the hosts’ defeat to Switzerland in the final. In striking a further three goals at Colombia 2011 he has joined a select band of players, one that includes Ronaldinho and Seydou Keita, who have found the back of the net in both competitions.
“I scored three goals at the U-17 World Cup and I remember telling myself that I was going to improve and score even more at the U-20 World Cup. My dream was to score five or six here, and though things didn’t work out that way, I think my performances were pretty good overall. My other dream is to play well enough to get spotted and earn a good move to Europe. And I showed that I can play for a big club there. I’m young and I’m only going to improve.” Egbedi told FIFA.com.
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