Former coach of the U-20 team, Manu Garba, has expressed his lack of surprise at the early exit of the Flying Eagles from the African Games.
Garba attributed the team’s struggles to inadequate preparation and a rushed assembly process.
“If you look at the under 20, I think they trained for barely three weeks. I think the preparation was inadequate for such a competition of such magnitudes,” stated Garba.
He highlighted the last-minute nature of the team assembly, noting the absence of a U-20 team on the ground weeks before the tournament began.
Manu Garba emphasized the importance of continuity and early preparation in football, citing the advantage held by teams like Ghana who had been preparing for the African Games for a significant period.
He stressed the need for ample time for players to reach their peak performance levels and gain valuable experience through friendly matches.
“In football, continuity matters, just close to the senior national team, so players might have to be at the highest level before they can make an impact,” Manu Garba explained.
“And most importantly, I think if we are going for such a competition, we need to play a lot of friendly matches too for those of them who are just coming into the team so they can get that experience before the major competition.”
Garba’s comments shed light on the challenges faced by the Flying Eagles and underscore the importance of proper preparation and strategic planning in international competitions.
