All eyes on Nigeria as UAE 2013 begins....

The 2013 FIFA Under-17 World Cup kicks off on Thursday with three-time champions  Brazil taking on debutants Slovakia in the opening match at  the  Sheikh Zayed Stadium, Abu Dhabi in the United Arab Emirates.

Hosts UAE face Honduras in the other Group A fixture at the same venue later in the day.

Twenty-four teams drawn into six groups will battle for the trophy won by Mexico on home soil in 2011. The tournament ends on November 8, and Nigeria begin their campaign for a fourth title when they take on defending champions Mexico in a Group F opener  in    Al Ain City on Saturday.

Brazil, who last won the championship at Finland 2003, are desperate for a fourth title and the Group A clash against the Slovaks presents teenage sensation Gabriel   an opportunity to convince coach Alexandre Gallo he should bank on him to win UAE 2013.

Gallo has at his disposal a talented group of players, many of whom have been playing together for years. Other  Brazil players to watch are Abner, Boschilia, Kenedy and  Mosquito.

But Slovakia could cause an upset and progress in the competition just as their senior team  surprised many by reaching the last 16 at the 2010  World Cup in  South Africa.

In Group B, Mexico 2011 runners-up Uruguay  meet New Zealand at the Emirates Stadium in Ras Al Khaimah,  while  African champions Ivory Coast engage  Italy  in the other group fixture.

Nigeria boast prior pedigrees in the competition and are one of the favourites for the title alongside Brazil, who have won the trophy three times like Nigeria. The South American powerhouse won in  Egypt in 1997, New Zealand in 1999 and in Finland in 2003.

Nigeria  won the maiden edition of the tournament in China 1985 and progressed to win the  1993 finals in Japan and  the 2007 edition in South Korea. The Golden Eaglets were runners-up  at  Canada’ 87, Trinidad & Tobago  in 2001 and   when they hosted in 2009.

Nigeria coach Manu Garba said on Wednesday the Eaglets were ready for the challenge ahead and backed his side for the title.

“We do not fear any opponent, but we respect them and I think we can do well,” Garba  was quoted by khaleejtimes.com as saying.

“I was an assistant (coach)  in 2007 to the late coach Yemi Tella when we won and I can see that we have a very strong side again. We will be one of the contenders at the finals.”

Eaglets assistant coach Nduka Ugbade  believes Nigeria have the quality to win the completion.

Ugbade, who captained the team that won in China,  told our correspondent  before travelling with the squad to  the tournament venue that the Eaglets were battle-ready for the competition.

“The players know what our target is and they are ready for the challenge,” the Tunisia ’94 Africa Cup of Nations winner said.

Nigerian  squad

Sunday Alampasu, Bello Zaraddeen, Japhet Raymond, Musa Yahaya, Chidera Ezeh, Isaac Success, Taiwo Awoniyi, Kelechi Iheanacho, Alfa Abdullahi, Chigozie Obasi, Abubakar Abdulazeez, Baba Salihu, Godwin Saviour, Habeeb Makanjuola, Okon Denis, Uzoha Odinaka, Mohammed Musa, Chidiebere Nwakali, Abubakar Aliu, Idowu Akinjide, Godwin Samuel.

FIFA U-17 World Cup Group Fixtures

Date	17:00	17:00	20:00	20:00
Oct.17	Brazil v Slovakia	Uruguay v N.Zealand	UAE v Honduras	Ivory Coast v Italy
Oct.18	Croatia v Morocco	Tunisia v Venezuela	Panama v Uzbekistan	Russia v Japan
Oct.19	Canada v Austria	Mexico v Nigeria	Iran v Argentina	Iraq v Sweden
Oct.20	Slovakia v Honduras	Uruguay v Ivory Coast	UAE v Brazil	Italy v N.Zealand
Oct.21	Croatia v Panama	Tunisia v Russia	Uzbekistan v Morocco	Japan v Venezuela
Oct.22	Canada v Iran	Mexico v Iraq	Argentina v Austria	Sweden v Nigeria
Oct.23	N.Zealand v Ivory Coast	Italy v Uruguay	Slovakia v UAE	Honduras v Brazil
Oct.24	Venezuela v Russia	Japan v Tunisia	Uzbekistan v Croatia	Morocco v Panama
Oct.25	Nigeria v Iraq	Sweden v Mexico	Argentina v Canada	Austria v Iran