Emmanuel Amuneke, Head Coach of the Golden Eaglets, on Thursday in Abuja said he was impressed with the performance of the team’s newly-recruited players.

“We are encouraged by their performance. They have been doing well in the friendly matches we have played and we believe they can always get better,’’ Amuneke told Newsmen after the team’s morning training session.

“Our training has been going well since we resumed camping in December and I always say that this team is a `work in progress’,’’ he added.

Reports had it that the new players were sourced from the recent open screening done by the team’s officials.

The team is currently in camp ahead of the African U-17 Championship scheduled for Niger Republic from Feb. 15 to March 1.

The former Super Eagles forward said the team was optimistic about winning all their matches at the tournament.

“We are aware of the task ahead of us. We will win all our matches.

“The boys just have to go out there and show that this set of Golden Eaglets is good in its own right,’’ Amuneke said.

The coach was however hopeful that the Nigeria Football Association (NFA) would organise more friendly matches for the team.

“The more we play the better for the team,’’ he said.

Nigeria will battle against host team Niger, Guinea and Zambia in Group A at the competition, while Cote d’Ivoire, South Africa, Mali and Cameroon will lock horns in Group B.