LOME — In SPITE of the Voodoo threat by the Togolese fans, the Golden Eaglets are determined to win this year’s CAF Under-17 championship against the hosts, Togo on Sunday. Some of the players who spoke to Sports Vanguard said strongly that voodoo does not play football, but legs and brains, promising to make a mince meat of the Togolese junior team.

Left back Sherriff Issa whose dream is to play for either Manchester United or Real Madrid says,”we are winning the game. We have the game and the spirit is high. We are not afraid. we lost so many scoring chances in our last match and have now put our acts together to lift the trophy”.

Lukman Abdullahi urged Nigerians not to lose sleep over the match as they are resolved to do their fatherland proud.

Michael Egbeta popularly called the engine room of the team said, “in football, there’s nothing like fear, we were able to get to this stage due to the calibre of players and coaching crew we have and the motivation from all Nigerians. All these inspired us and I can assure you that on Sunday we are going to sing our victory song.

My memorable match of the tournament was that against Ghana’s Starlets because they gave us a very good fight. We are not going to underrate the Togolese”.

Also speaking was the highest goal scorer so far, Chrisantus Macaulay who says his status as the leading goal score makes him confident. .

“We are not scared of the so called voodoo (juju) because once God says the day is ours, we’ll surely have it come to pass. We have better chances of winning the game than the Togolese because if you traced our qualification for the final you would note that we played tougher matches and this has really prepared us for Sunday’s final. I hope to increase my goal tally by God’s grace” Gani Oseni, said the motivating force has been good training from the experienced coaching crew as he promised to contribute his own quota to ensure the Togolese fall on Sunday.

He said: “ we have talented players and so the team can beat Togo silly. We have been training hard for the final match, we have a very good technical crew Their voodoo threat is nothing to us because we have what is bigger than voodoo, Jesus Christ. If God says we’ll carry the day surely, we will carry it. Voodoo does not play football.

Vanguard