TheCable

Golden Eaglets coach, Emmanuel Amuneke, is optimistic his side will defend their FIFA U-17 World Cup crown in Chile.

The team arrived in Santiago, the capital city of Chile, as one of Africa’s four flag bearers at the 16th edition of the tournament which will be played between October 17 and November 8, 2015.

Nigeria have won the competition a record four times with the last two years ago in the United Arab Emirates (UAE).

And Amuneke is upbeat about the chances of the Eaglets successfully defending the trophy.

“We are here to defend the trophy,” he said.

“We are here with new players who want to write their own history and we are looking forward to our first game against the United States of America, which is very important for us.”

Team striker, Victor Osimhen, echoed the sentiment of his coach, adding that they are ready for the expected challenges as the defending champions.

“We are here to win,” Osimhen, who is Golden Eaglets’ top scorer with 39 goals in 71 cumulative international and local matches, said.

“Just as the coach said, we are here to write our own story as a team and players.”

Nigeria will face USA in their opening match on October 17.