 It's still the breakfast in plus TV Africa. We appreciate that you're still with us this morning. If you just tuned in, we're about to talk about sports on Fridays. We're just, you know, just look at, you know, a bit of what's going on in the sporting world, especially football, and most likely we pay attention to Niger. However, the under 20 Afghans game would soon, you know, commence. The boys already, the flying eagles already set up for, or set up for the game preparation, if you like to say so. The Niger flying eagles have been drawn in a very tough group. I like to call that tough because they will be playing the host, which is Egypt, Mozambique and Senegal for that 2023 calf on the 20 Cup of Nation. Well, we have Monday Thomas who joins us this morning to discuss this and all the football consent. Monday, thank you so much for being part of the show. Good morning. Mercy, it's a pleasure joining you this morning to talk about the under 20. In nine days, we'll get to see proceedings and it looks like everything is happening in the northern part of Africa. We just saw the conclusion of the Chan, which took place in Algeria. And now it's the under 20. And I must also like to add that the under 17 will be played in Algeria. So it looks like everything is happening in North Africa, but that's not a major concerns. The major concerns right now it's the flying eagles. How are they gearing up? They are the seven-time African champions and they're looking to continue in that champion manner as Coach Lada Boussour has released a 25 man squad for that encounter. Seven NTFL players, we can say they've got experience. They play good football here in the country. Yeah, I like to say that Nigerian football right now is actually improved. I'm talking about the NTFL. We've seen some quality refereeing and we've seen some good football so far in the bridge version of the league. And that's certainly going to reflect on how the flying eagles will perform at the upcoming under 20 couple nations. So I like to see, you know, streamline that conversation to the group. I mean, I have said that this, I mean, looking at the category or the classification I'd say it's a very tough one. But do you think that we have what it takes, you know, to meet up this game? We're going to be starting the game if I'm not mistaken. We're starting that game in the first group with Egypt. We'll be playing Egypt. And then of course we'll have Mozambique and then Senegal in that one. How do you see us? Do you think that we're able to skill through all of this? Of course, they are a question max because like you said, it's going to be a very tough group. Everyone who I agree with with Portugal won, I mean, picked alongside the whole nation Egypt and as well as the current champ African champions. I'm talking about as Senegal, according to the reports from Senegal, they're looking to get five players from five players that won the champ just completed a chance to that sport. So the Senegalese side are going to come prepared. They're coming from a tournament and they are going into another tournament with the momentum of winning it. So we're certainly going to be a difficult game for Nigeria. And then Nigeria will take on Senegal in their first game, which is a nine day sign. Yeah. And in nine days time, Nigeria will take on Senegal. So it's going to be a very, very unpredictable game. But with the squad so far, with the 25 manlies or in the camp, the likes of Daniel Daga and some other NPFL players, I think we've got what it takes to age pass this very strong African side. Senegal are going to bring what they have. But I think Nigeria also going to bring what they have. And we will have to settle on the pitch of play. The likes of Egypt are also a big nation as far as African football. But I don't think we should underestimate Mozambique because many people think Mozambique are going to be the whooping boys. I mean, football is not like that anymore. It can be on the paper that they are the whooping boys. But on the pitch of play, they could come up with a whole different style of football. So it's going to be a very, very difficult game for difficult tournaments for the flying eagles. But I think they are equal to the tax, of course. Coach Ladon Mosul with all his experience, I think that make Nigeria proud. Well, usually it feels like we always have like fantastic lineup, I mean, of players. But technicality seemed to always be the issue. So do you think that we have what it takes, I mean, in terms of technicality now, to knowing the type of player to deploy at a certain time, who to play a certain wing and, you know, the defense and what have you, you know, the format of play? Do you think that we have all of that together? Yeah, I must appreciate you for that question, talking about technicality, because if it's talent, we've got talent here in the country. We've got talent for the technicality, the right to know which player is suitable for a particular position. That is that is raised on the coach. And I think Coach Ladon Mosul is a quality manager. He knows his players and he knows the strength of his players. And the man who knows his onion, he will certainly deploy his players at the right position. The likes of Daniel Daga, for me, I think that's going to be the player to watch. He was prolific in the qualification. And he's been in the camp for the under 20. He plays for Dakada FC and is certainly going to be a one to watch in that particular midfield. So that question about technicality, yes, we've got a technicality. But the other question of if we know how to deploy players to suit your quality, that is on Ladon Mosul and I can vouch for him. Well, moving away from, you know, the under 20 flying eagles now, let's look at the revelation cops. We've been told that our technical director has actually listed 26 players for the Super Falcon match. And we're very, a lot of people are quite pretty excited that you have the likes of a sort of shawler. Who does the magic every other time when, you know, she plays in her own club and other, you know, players. What are your thoughts? Yeah, my thoughts are that it's going to be an incredible tournament as we are preparing for the people women's woke up. I know a lot of people have not still forgiven the Super Falcons for the abysmal performance at the Wafkan last year in Morocco. So it's going to be rested on them for them to prove that they are still number one, as far as African football is concerned. You may have mentioned, she has actually scored two hat tricks in one month. So she's on fire. She's on fire. But one thing we would love to see is our bringing that energy, bringing that momentum to the camp of the Super Falcons and infecting the players with the high quality. And so that everyone gets football is not a one man sports. Football is a team sport. Everyone needs to play in their department. They need to ensure that their department is solid, you know, so that the goal scoring department, if the defense is good, if the midfield is good, that means the strike is going to be good as well. So if she can bring that momentum, you can bring that infectious goal scoring habit to the camp of the Super Falcons, then I think the best is yet to come for the Super Falcons. Go to the tournament, take on the likes of Mexico, who are, of course, a great football nation, as far as women's football is concerned, the likes of Costa Rica and the rest, and then prepare for the FIFA Women's World Cup. Without a doubt, Nigeria have surely a quality in African football, but I think it's time for them to show it on the wall stage. So but do you think we have enough preparation? I mean, do you think that the girls are pretty ready in terms of preparation to meet these other teams that will be playing and not also looking at it likely because they're also not a team that you just walk past in terms of the group staging and what have you, that seemed to be pretty tough. So do you think that preparation we have or that we should do to go ahead and win this particular tournament? No, we don't have as we speak. As we speak, we don't have enough preparation. I mean, sometimes you need to lose the battle to win the war. Even if we don't perform in this tournament, I want us to perform, but even if we don't perform, well, we can learn from our mistakes. We can learn from our own ongoing and then get things right before the senior tournament, which is the FIFA Women's World Cup. Then we can talk about, but this tournament, this tournament, I'm expecting the best. I'm expecting them to get back up just like the champions we know them for. Like they said, to be a champion, it doesn't, doesn't matter that you win all the time. All that matters is how you recover from winning. The Super Falcons have shown technical abilities. I think it's time for them to show bounce bug abilities in this revelation scop. So let's just say that this revelation scop is for them to bounce back and prepare for the senior or FIFA Women's World Cup. So I would just, you know, leave it very open and this would be, you know, the final for us as we called it a wrap right here on the show. Now, and if you had a minute or five minutes to just, you know, be the coach of this team, what exactly would you do? Where would you be paying attention to what would be the focus for you? First of all, pay attention on the mentality of the girls. Let them know that there is no room for complacency. There's no room to feel inferior. These players, you're going to play in their world players, but you are also world stars. Well, the likes of Rajidah Jibadeh, which is a very good player, if I am not even going to mention, because I'm pretty sure everyone in the world has seen what she can do. So let's talk about this young names who are yet to make it big in the world stage. So you just have to speak some confidence into them and help their mentality and also get your tactics right. That's where the question mark comes on the coach, Randy Waldron. But at this point in time, I'm the coach, right? So I'm going to, first of all, build up your mentalities into this game and make sure I bring out a good formation, a good tactics. That's where I'm going to tell because I'm not a coach. So let's just pray Randy Waldron will bring out the right tactics and also motivate the girls mentally. Well, Monday for us is always a delight to have you share your thoughts or talk sports with you every Friday right here on the breakfast. We look forward to having you talk about sports and all the football, especially Niger, as we proceed. Mercy, it's always a pleasure talking sport with you, my regards to coffee. And that's it. Do you have a fantastic day? We hope you have enough money to spend and take care of yourselves in the weekend already. Have a great day Monday. That's it this morning. If you missed out on any part of the conversation, we'd like the two for us on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. And we're saying thank you so much for being part of the show. We will return Monday. We hope that you join us as well. My name is Massey Ibupo. We're joined in the newsroom at nine o'clock for the news brief. Please stay with us. Good morning.