The Nation Newspaper

Tag: Eaglets

  • Manu: My Eaglets are future Eagles

    Manu: My Eaglets are future Eagles

    Coach Manu Garba has tipped his Golden Eaglets to go on to be full internationals after they won the 2013 FIFA U17 World Cup in fine style.

    “I see them moving up to the U20 team and then becoming the future Super Eagles,” said an elated Manu after Nigeria clinched a record fourth U17 World Cup at the expense of Mexico in Abu Dhabi.

    “We were the most consistent and most entertaining team at this World Cup.

    “And I believe we have left an indelible mark at this tournament.”

    Manu said the record victory was for the whole of Africa.

    “I thank God for the victory, it was a massive victory for us. This is not only for us Nigerians, but for the entire Africa who backed us to achieve this,” he said.

    The ex-Gombe United coach was assistant to late Yemi Tella when Nigeria won the FIFA U-17 in Korea 2007.

  • Awoniyi hails Eaglets Captain

    Awoniyi hails Eaglets Captain

    Striker Taiwo Awoniyi has identified teammate and captain, Musa Muhammed as one of the factors behind Golden Eaglets’ sterling performances.

    Muhammed has been an inspired choice by coach Manu Garba (MFR) ‘because he combines the names of two prophets’ and Awoniyi said there couldn’t have been a better captain than the Kano-born defender.

    “Without any doubt,Musa Muhammed is my best player not because on and off the field, he is a leader” Awoniyi said of Muhammed who has scored twice at this FIFA Under-17 World Cup UAE 2013.

    In a survey conducted amongst the players,Awoniyi noted that Muhammed has perfectly played his role as captain well because of an innate humility which is second to none.

    Cool, calm and collected, Muhammed has played more matches than any player in the Golden Eaglets and Awoniyi stated that Muhammed has impressed everyone because he makes no bone about it.

    “Muhammed is a born leader” Awoniyi said matter-of-factly. “You can hardly know that he is our captain because he doesn’t show it at all.

    “On and off the pitch, Musa is a leader because he regards us as friends and teammates” added Taiwo.

    Muhammed will hope today to be the fourth Nigerian captain to lift the FIFA U-17 World Cup.

  • Sports Minister to Maigari: These Eaglets must be kept together

    Sports Minister to Maigari: These Eaglets must be kept together

    • Tips Manu boys for Olympics team

    Sports Minister, Bolaji Abdullahi has instructed the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) to ensure that the Eaglets are kept together so that the senior national team can have a solid foundation in the future.

    The Eaglets have been the cynosure of all eyes after their awesome display leading to the final of the FIFA U-17 World Cup which would end tomorrow in Abu Dhabi, the capital of the United Arab Emirates(UAE).

    They beat Sweden’s U-17 side 3-0 in the sem-final played in Dubai after they had laboured to hold the same European side to a 3-3 draw during their Group F clash in Al Ain. They will face Mexico in the final, another side that bowed 6-1 to the superior fireworks of the Nigerians on October 19 also in Al Ain.

    Aminu Maigari said the boys would be allowed to stay together to form a balanced Super Eagles of the future.

    “I have been dicussing with the NFF president and he has assured me that they would ensure that the boys are kept together. We are going to ensure that they don’t evaporate like it has happened in the past. These are credible talents and it will be immense tragedy if we allow these boys to fritter away,” Abdullahi said.

    The sports minister has, however, endorsed the Eaglets to form the core of the Olympics squad when the qualifiers for the 2016 Rio Olympics starts in Africa.

    “The good thing is that we have the Olympics qualifiers coming up in 2014 and these boys I believe can form the core of that team regarding moving forward,” Abdullahi concluded.

  • Eaglets to face wounded Mexicans — Iheanacho

    Eaglets to face wounded Mexicans — Iheanacho

    • Urges Nigerians to pray for team

    Golden Eaglets’ Kelechi Iheanacho has stated that the Mexican U-17 team would be difficult and his colleagues should not expect a repeat of the first round encounter when they clash in the final of the FIFA U-17 World Cup holding in the United Arab Emirates (UAE).

    The Eaglets were rampant against the El Tri who incidentally are the defending champions of the competition when they clashed during the first round. Nigeria won 6-1. But the Mexicans clawed their way back into the competition and are now in the final after a resounding 3-0 thrashing of Argentina in Abu Dhabi.

    Speaking with SportingLife at the Mixed Zone of the Rashid Stadium in Dubai, Iheanacho said the Eaglets would be ready for the Mexicans and would step out in Abu Dhabi as if they have not met them before.

    The Imo-born youth prodigy said it would be a thing of joy for him to lift the trophy with the Golden Eaglets so that he would be remembered along greats such as Kanu Nwankwo, Wilson Oruma, Nduka Ugbade among others.

    “We are in the final and we do not want to toil with our chances against Mexico. We have played against them before and we beat them. It is very easy to say that we would beat them but we have to realise that they are like a wounded lion and we must take them seriously.

    “We need the prayers of Nigerians to achieve that. It is not by our power and I must also tell my colleagues that it is not yet a done deal; we must continue the fight in the final to ensure we write our names in gold too like other great players that won the cup for Nigeria,” Iheanacho told SportingLife in Dubai.

    Iheanacho has scored five goals but his inspirational play has been very exemplary for the Nigerians who are seeking a fourth title on Asian soil.

     

  • Shakhtar Donetsk chase 4 Eaglets

    Shakhtar Donetsk chase 4 Eaglets

    Ukrainian champions Shakhtar Donetsk are the latest club to show interest in players of the Golden Eaglets led by new star Taiwo Awoniyi.

    The other players who have caught the eyes of Shakhtar are skipper Musa Muhammed, Samuel Okon and Musa Yahaya.

    “Shakhtar are ready to break the ban for four of the Eaglets – Awoniyi, captain Musa Muhammed, Samuel Okon and Musa Yahaya. Like most big European clubs, they have their scouts in UAE who have specially recommended those four boys to them,” a top team official informed MTNFootball.com.

    Awoniyi has got his chance in the team following the hamstring injury that has sidelined star striker Isaac Success. He has so far fired five goals including the opening goal against Sweden in Tuesday’s semi-final.

    Defenders Muhammed and Okon have scored two goals apiece. Left back Okon was a late addition to the team and did not feature at the African Junior Championship in Morocco. The energetic skipper Muhammed has already sparked off interest in England.

    Musa Yahaya has been one of the stars of this World Cup and he has besides Shakhtar, also interested clubs in England and Spain.

    Nigerian fans best remember Shakhtar at the height of the career of international striker Julius Aghahowa at the Ukrainian club.

  • No special rewards for Eaglets-NFF

    No special rewards for Eaglets-NFF

    NFF scribe Musa Amadu has revealed to SportingLife that no incentives whatsoever would be promised the National U.17 team (Golden Eaglets ) if they eventually win the U.17 World Cup in Dubai on Friday.

    Amadu said mere participation in the competition at the world level is enough motivation for the boys to excel.

    “One thing people should realise is that participation in a tournament at this level is purely developmental. Players are not expecting anything if they win. Instead their expectation is how they can improve their game, how they can win for their countries, how they can be spotted by other big clubs in the World.

    “It is not the amount of money that would be given to them that is important. The NFF has provided them with all they needed to excel, and we think that is very sufficient for them. However, if they eventually win, and the Federal Government in its benevolent way decides to honour them, that would be appreciated by the boys and the federation,” Ahmadu said.

    The scribe maintained that the country has nothing to prove at the competition, saying that the main aim of the football federation is to discover players who would rise to become Super Stars in the Super Eagles in the nearest future. He finally commended the boys for their exceptional play in the tournament, while advising them not to relent in their efforts until they win trophy for a record of four times.

    Nigeria won the trophy in 1985, 1993, 2007 and played in the finals in 1987, 2001, 2009.

  • Eaglets will make Africa proud, says Ugbade

    Eaglets will make Africa proud, says Ugbade

    Nduka Ugbade, an Assistant Coach with the Golden Eaglets, has assured Nigerians that the team would make Africa proud at the ongoing FIFA U-17 World Cup in the UAE.

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the Golden Eaglets defeated their Uruguayan counterparts 2-0 on Saturday to qualify for the semi-finals of the competition.

    Ugbade told NAN on telephone on Sunday from the UAE that the Eaglets would ensure they win the competition.

    “Other African countries are now looking up to Nigeria, as the only African team left in the competition, to win the event.

    “We are now saddled with the responsibility of making not only Nigeria proud, but Africans as a whole, as the only team left in the competition from the continent.

    “It is unfortunate that Cote d’Ivoire lost to Argentina eventually. But they played so well and fought relentlessly not to lose out.

    “We are gradually getting to the end of the competition and winning is our utmost goal, and we are not relenting till we achieve this,’’ he said.

    NAN recalls that Cote d’Ivoire, the other African country in the quarter-finals, had lost 1-2 to Argentina on Saturday.

    Ugbade, who led Nigeria to its first win in the competition in 1985, said the Eaglets had been playing to instructions and this had led to its success so far.

    “They have been doing well and we are also concentrating on ensuring that they are physiologically fit to play because that is also an important aspect of their training.

    “Constant talking to the players, both collectively and individually, has also helped. They are young lads and need to be constantly guided,” he added.

    Ugbade, however, allayed fears over Akinjide Idowu missing the next match due to two yellow cards from two games, saying he would be replaced by someone who can equally attack.

    “Let panic not be in the air. We have another player who can take over his position. The attack will not be left open, but be filled with someone capable,” he said.

    The coach also said the injured Success Isaac was getting better, and assured that he would be back in the starting line-up once he was fit to play.

    “We want the injury to heal well, because straining it now can become a major problem in future. If missing the next match will put him in proper condition, it won’t be a bad idea,’’ he said.

    NAN reports that the Eaglets will take on Sweden on Tuesday, Nov. 5 in the semi-finals.

  • Ebonyi fans hail Eaglets for avenging Nigeria’s recent losses to Uruguay

    Ebonyi fans hail Eaglets for avenging Nigeria’s recent losses to Uruguay

    Football fans in Ebonyi on Sunday hailed the Golden Eaglets for defeating Uruguay on Saturday at the ongoing FIFA U-17 World Cup in the United Arab Emirates (UAE).

    In separate interviews with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), the fans described the victory as revenge for previous losses by Nigeria to the South Americans.

    NAN reports that the Eaglets beat Uruguay 2-0 on Saturday, through a Taiwo Awoniyi brace in a quarter-final match played at Sharjah, to qualify for Tuesday’s semi-finals.

    However, NAN recalls that Uruguay’s senior national team had defeated their Nigerian counterparts, the Super Eagles, 2-1 in the 2013 FIFA Confederation Cup in Brazil in June.

    The Flying Eagles, Nigeria’s under-20 men football team, also lost 1-2 to Uruguay’s under-20 men team at the 2013 FIFA U-20 World Cup in Turkey.

    The Ebonyi fans however told NAN that the Eaglets had shown that Nigerian football had come of age and urged the team not to rest on its oars in its remaining matches.

    Ikeuwa Omebe, a former chairman of Ezza North Local Government in Ebonyi, said the team’s performance against the South Americans was superlative and they were poised to win the competition.

    “This is a national team which recorded the longest period of preparation in recent times, and the coaches selected players who diligently imbibed their technical teachings.

    “The team’s win over Uruguay showed its tactical depth, which is concretised by its scoring 20 goals and conceding five so far in the competition,” he said.

    George Anizoba, coach of Mgbo Ambassadors Football Club of Ohaukwu, the 2013 Ebonyi Federation Cup champions, said the Eaglets had proven that they are a well-groomed side.

    “Their quality is shown in the fact that the team reached this stage of the competition from a group that has produced two other semi-finalists — Sweden and Mexico,’’ he said.

    The coach however urged the team not to be complacent against Sweden in the semi-finals.

    “They should not forget that the Swedish team gave them their toughest test at the group stage when both sides drew 3-3,’’ Anizoba said.

    He suggested that the Eaglets’ coaches should review the tape of their previous match with Sweden so as to be able to effectively work on the team’s areas of weaknesses.

    Mr Rufus Ebenyi,an Ebonyi Ministry of Youths and Sports’ official, called on the coaches to work seriously on the team’s defence.

    “The team appears vulnerable at the rear,’’ he said.

    Nicholas Okpo, a striker of Nehuda Football Club of Abakaliki, prayed for the speedy recovery of Eaglets striker Success Isaac, who sustained an injury during the team’s earlier encounter with Sweden.

    “Apart from being the arrowhead of the Eaglets’ attack, being fit for the match will afford Issac the opportunity of paying the Swedes in their own coin for injuring him,” he said.

  • Football enthusiasts praise Eaglets

    Football enthusiasts praise Eaglets

    Some football enthusiasts on Sunday praised the Golden Eaglets for their 2-0 victory over Uruguay at the ongoing FIFA U-17 World Cup in the United Arab Emirates (UAE).

    The enthusiasts, in separate interviews with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Lagos, also expressed confidence that the team would qualify for the final.

    Festus Allen, a former coach of 3SC Football Club of Ibadan, praised the team for qualifying for the semi-finals of the competition “in style’’.

    “This is a commendable victory for the team.The players’ display on pitch has shown that the boys prepared adequately for the competition.

    “The technical crew is also doing a great job, I must confess.

    The boys are playing as a well co-ordinated team,’’ he said.

    Ndaks Lawrence, the Head of Football, National Institute for Sports (NISports) in Lagos, said the Eaglets have made the country proud so far in the competition.

    Lawrence urged the team to remain focused to ensure it gets to the final of the competition, saying it is one of the best under-17 teams this Nigeria has produced.

    “But the players should not be carried away with their good run in the competition. The most important thing for the team now is to qualify for the final,” he said.

    Also, Adamu Ejor, the coach of the SuperSand Eagles,urged Nigerians to give the team the needed support to qualify for the final.

    “We are almost there, and the boys should be given more support at this crucial stage of the tournament.

    “I believe we can defeat Sweden in the semi-final match on November 5, if the boys can put in their best to book a place in the finals,” Ejor said.

  • Manu boasts: Uruguay can’t stop us

    Manu boasts: Uruguay can’t stop us

    Golden Eaglets’ head coach Manu Garba has stated that it would be difficult for any country including Uruguay to stop his boys progressing to the last four of the ongoing FIFA U17 World Cup in the United Arab Emirates.

    The Nigerians have been awesome in front of goal scoring 18 goals from four games and letting in only five. They defeated the Iranian U17 side at the Khalifa Bin Zayed Stadium in Al Ain on Tuesday to set a Saturday date with the Uruguay team that eliminated Slovakia 4-2 in the second round same day.

    Speaking with journalists in Al Ain, Manu disclosed that the Eaglets were getting better with each passing day and would ensure that their quarter final opponents do not stand in their way and a place in the semi final.

    The country’s reps raced to a three-goal lead in the first half by Samuel Okon, Kelechi Iheanacho and Captain Musa Muhammed and another by Musa Yahaya in the second half to seal Nigeria’s berth in the quarter final and a date with Uruguay in Sharjah on Saturday.

    “I said earlier that my attack is blistering and I still maintained that it would be difficult for any team to stop us from scoring because our team loves scoring goals,” said Manu at the post-match conference.”

    With 18 goals in four matches, the Golden Eaglets now have an average of 4.5 goals per match and Manu said there are still many more to come: “We don’t pretend we are an attacking team and though there are still a few errors, we are going to correct them as we go further and progress.”