Former Super Eagles midfielder , Garba Lawal, has argued that the Nigeria U17 MNT might have underestimated their group stage Opponents at the CAF U17 Africa Cup of Nations, and it almost cost them.

Lawal told FL, that all teams will go head to head against Nigeria even at the youth levels now, because “there are no pushovers” on the continent any more.

“The reason they struggle now is that each and every country knows how to play football now,” the former Nigeria International opined.

“There are no pushovers now like before, so that is why you see a lot of bigger countries are struggling.”

Lawal himself played at youth level for Country, before moving up the ranka and earned 57 caps at senior level.

He charged the Eaglets to do better than they did in the group phase as it is very important and key to qualifying for the World Cup.

“We were very lucky to come back and win against South Africa, you know our games against them and Ghana are always tough, but, we have to see more of them in the next stage which is very important,” he stressed.

Nigeria will face Burkina Faso in the quarter final, this Thursday.