Manu Garba needs Kelechi Iheanacho and Isaac Success to succeed New Zealand

Tomiwa Babalola

Former Super Eagles player, Garba Lawal has said that the inclusion of Kelechi Iheanacho and Isaac Success in the Flying Eagles squad will help Manu Garba succeed in New Zealand next month.

Both were excluded from the national U-20 team that won the African Youth Championship in Senegal last month, making it seven time the Nigerian youngster have won the title.

“[Iheanacho and Success] have been in this squad since the Golden Eaglets days, so I think they will be a good addition to the squad despite missing the AYC,” Lawal told Goal.

“In football, you need everybody. Sometimes, you have cases of injuries and you need to make a good substitution. So I don’t think it will be a bad idea taking them to New Zealand whether they are starters or not.”

The Flying Eagles have only managed to reach the final of the championship twice, one in 1989 and the recent was in 2005, when Argentina defeated the Siasia-led boys 2-1, all thanks to Lionel Messi, who represented Argentina that year.

“The U20 team have been doing great including coach Manu Garba and his crew. These are young lads that are eager to win trophies and achieve something,” he continued.

“We can only hope they continue in that stead and they should be reminded that the U-20 World Cup is a different ball game entirely from the African Youth Championship.

“If they want to go far at the World Cup, they must win every games as they come and must give full concentration but with the caliber of players in the Flying Eagles squad, I am sure they will give a good account of themselves,” he continued.

Nigeria’s first game will be against Brazil at the Stadium Taranaki, New Plymouth on June 1, 2015.