The Nation Newspaper

Tag: Eaglets

  • Eaglets’ draw, a setback — Manu

    Eaglets’ draw, a setback — Manu

    Golden Eaglets’ head coach Manu Garba has described the 3-3 draw against the Swedish U17 team as a huge setback in his boys’ quest to qualify for the next round of the FIFA cadet World Cup holding in the United Arab Emirates.

    Speaking with hordes of journalists at the media centre of the Khalifa Bin Zayed Stadium in Al Ain yesterday after the drab draw against the European first timer, Manu said his wards played below the enterprising game they had against the Mexicans and has rated them at 60 percent.

    The Nigeria U17 handler however promised to work on the deficiencies noticed ahead of the decider on Friday against Iraq in Dubai.

    “It was a great setback because we came out to win not to draw, but at times football can be funny and it has gone that way today. I believe that is the way God wanted it to be. We are happy with the draw having come back from two goals down.

    “My players played above average I will give them 60 per cent. Because all the three goals we conceded were as a result of loss of concentration which is least expected in the game of this magnitude.”

    He also answered questions on the approach deployed by the Swedish team that unsettled his players: “Definitely we knew that the Scandinavian countries always play direct way of football and they operate from the wing and negotiate some pull outs. But no matter the size, if our boys had high level of concentration and were determined to win aerial balls during pull outs from the wings, they wouldn’t have conceded those goals. During our training sessions we shall solve the problem.”

  • Maigari, others inspired Eaglets’ comeback

    Maigari, others inspired Eaglets’ comeback

    The Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) President, Aminu Maigari and Cross River Commissioner for Youth and Sport, Patrick Ugbe arrived in Al Ain yesterday to boost the level of support for the Golden Eaglets at the ongoing FIFA U17 World Cup in UAE.
    Maigari got to the Danat Resort Hotel of the Eaglets yesterday afternoon and his arrival along with other top officials of the football house aided the team’s fightback against a determined Sweden U17 team.
    The Eaglets will change base to Dubai ahead of their third match against the weeping team of the group, Iraq, at the Rashid Stadium on Friday.

  • We’ll work on Eaglets’ weak points — Iraqi coach

    The head coach of the Iraqi team, Muwafaq Adlool Zaidan has stated that his players will work on the loopholes noticed in the Golden Eaglets’ team when they both slug it out in the Group F final match at the ongoing FIFA U17 World Cup in the United Arab Emirates.

    Muwafaq said this in a post-match press conference shortly after their 1-3 loss to Mexico at the Khalifa Bin Zayed Stadium in Al Ain, yesterday.

    Iraq still have an outside chance of qualifying for the second round if they beat Nigeria in the last group match and this the coach has pointed out would be their motivation ahead of the clash.

    He labelled the Eaglets a bunch of talented, skillful individuals adding that with the right technique and strategy the team will are beatable.

    “Nigerians rely heavily on individual skills, so I think they have some weak points that we will try to work on. We have the willingness to develop Iraqi football and this team will develop to the standard we expect very soon.

    “We know we are at a disadvantage because we play with players lacking in football skills, but we hope to try our best against Nigeria to see if we could qualify for the next round,” Muwafaq said.

    Iraq have no point after two games and are last in the group standings with just a game left to remedy their continued stay in the competition.

    They are making their first appearance in the cadet championship.

  • Nigeria shifts base to Dubai today

    Nigeria’s U17 players and officials will leave Al Ain’s Danat Resort Hotel this morning for Dubai, the venue of their third group match of the current FIFA cadet World Cup against Iraq, holding at the Rashid Stadium.

    The team’s Secretary, Taiye Egbayeilo told SportingLife that the Eaglets will be lodged at the Intercontinental Hotel, Dubai and will do so by 11.00am today.

    Egbayeilo said support for the Eaglets has been massive since the competition started, adding that Nigerians from Dubai and other neighbouring cities in the UAE have defied the distance to come watch their darling team in Al Ain.

    He predicted that the support would be massive in Dubai when the Eaglets entertain Iraq on Friday.

    “We shall be leaving for Dubai tomorrow (today). I have to state here that we have received enormous support from Nigerians in the UAE. They have all left their businesses to come support us despite the distance. We had over 300 fans from Dubai that came to watch our first match against Mexico and we are expecting more than thrice that figure when we play Iraq on Friday.

    “We shall be staying at the Intercontinental Hotel, Dubai. And we are leaving by 11.00am tomorrow (today),” Egbaiyelo stated.

  • Glo congratulates Eaglets

    Glo congratulates Eaglets

    National Telecoms Operator and major sponsor of Nigerian National Teams, Globacom, has congratulated the Golden Eaglets on their opening Group F match victory against Mexico on Saturday at the ongoing FIFA U-17 World Cup in the United Arab Emirates.

    Nigeria routed Mexico 6-1 with the Eaglets’ centre forward, Kelechi Iheanacho, netting four goals while midfielder Christian Nwakali and striker Isaac Success scored a goal each.

    Globabom in a press statement on Sunday commended the team for the outstanding performance against the Mexicans and urged them not to rest on their oars.

    “It did not come to us as a surprise that the Golden Eaglets started brilliantly because we were convinced that the team’s preparation was wholesome,” Globacom stated.

    “Therefore, we heartily commend the players for living up to expectation and enjoin them to concentrate fully as the competition is still a long way off,” the statement added.

    “We also commend the coaching crew for stringing the winning formula with which Nigeria demolished the Mexicans to put the country on course to win the U-17 World Cup trophy for a record fourth time,” Globacom stated further.

    Nigeria meets Sweden in the second group game in Al-Ain on Tuesday and a win will put the Manu Garba-tutored side in the knockout stage.

  • Eaglets feast on Nigerian dishes after mauling Mexico

    Eaglets feast on Nigerian dishes after mauling Mexico

    There is nothing as sweet as victory and the Golden Eaglets on Saturday night savoured their opening 6-1 win against Mexico at the 2013 UAE FIFA Under-17 World Cup by devouring plates of assorted local Nigerian dishes at their Danat Resort Hotel in Al Ain.

    The local dishes were at the behest of His Excellency, Ibrahim Auwalu, Nigeria’s Ambassador to the gulf state of UAE who fulfilled the pledge he made Friday night to provide the team with their favourite Nigerian meals on each of their match days at the on-going championship.

    The delicious meal was prepared and delivered by foremost Dubai-based Africana Home Restaurant and one would be forgiven to think he were at an ‘Owambe’ in downtown Lagos.

    “I can’t believe I’m actually eating semovita with assorted meat and it’s as if I’m at a local party back home in Nigeria,” said goalkeeper Sunday Alampasu. “There is nothing as sweet as Nigerian food and we are looking forward to another round on Tuesday after our game against Sweden.”

    Meanwhile, the Manager of Africana Home Restaurant, Dolapo Dola-Bello, said the outfit was more than pleased to be part of the Golden Eaglets’ victory party.

    “We are so delighted to be part of this and pleasantly surprised when the Nigerian Embassy contacted us,” he said. “Of course, we are the best in the UAE when it comes to African dishes and we are so happy that the players and officials of the Golden Eaglets enjoy our meal.”

    In a related development, Mr. Humaid Almahmoud, an Emirati attached to the Golden Eaglets, gifted the players packs of chocolate ‘for making me proud for being part of the team.’

    Almahmoud, a banker, took time off his vacation to serve as a volunteer at the ongoing 2013 UAE FIFA Under-17 World Cup.

  • NASCOM boss counsels Eaglets

    NASCOM boss counsels Eaglets

    The Chairman of Nigeria Academicals Sports Committee (NASCOM), Yemi Idowu believes the only team that can stop the Golden Eaglets from winning the 2013 UAE FIFA Under-17 World Cup are the players themselves!

    Speaking to the players at their Danat Resort Hotel before the 6-1 victory over Mexico on Saturday, Idowu, who is the proprietor of Nathaniel Boys FC of Lagos, said the players should give their best since they are the ‘ Special Ones’ picked from millions of Nigerian youths to represent the country.

    “You have nothing to fear because your coaches have counted you to be worthy of playing for the national team,” said Idowu. “The onus is now on you to justify the confidence the coaches have in you and do your best for the country.

    “I want you to know that there is nobody that can stop you unless you don’t have the willpower to do it and I just want you to concentrate on this assignment,” he noted.

    Idowu, who is in the UAE with some players and staff of his club to support the Golden Eaglets’ quest to conquer the world for the fourth time, said he was pleased with the team’s 6-1 win over Mexico on Saturday even as he challenged them to be focussed in their subsequent matches.

    “It was a great start,” Idowu said in a frank exchange with an official of the team. “But we must ensure that the players remained focussed and not get carried away.”

  • Eaglets seek place in knockout stage

    Eaglets seek place in knockout stage

    Rampant Golden Eaglets of Nigeria will seek passage to the next round of the U17 World Cup when they face debutants Sweden on Tuesday.

    Both teams won their first games, the Eaglets smashing past defending champions Mexico 6-1, while Sweden beat Iraq 4-1.

    Nigeria thus set the pace in Group F with 3 points, same points as second placed Sweden but have superior goal difference of +5 as against Sweden’s +3.

    Three points in the next game in Al Ain will propel the Eaglets to the next stage of the competition.

    Sweden debuted in the UEFA U17 European Championship this year, where they reached the semi-final and lost 10-9 on penalties to eventual winners Russia.

    The most dangerous player in the Sweden rank is striker Gustav Engvall, who scored a brace in their opening game against Iraq.

    Eaglets coach Manu Garba has insisted they will not underrate Sweden as there won’t be any easy game at the tournament.

    “There is no and won’t be any easy game at this tournament and we are not going to underrate Sweden because we beat Mexico 6-1,” he said.

    “We are going to approach the match against Sweden in the same manner as we did against Mexico because our objective is to win the fourth title for Nigeria.”

    The Nigeria strike force of Isaac Success and Kelechi Iheanacho has already caught the eye with a total of five goals between them from their opening game.

    But the discipline and doggedness of the skipper Musa Mohammed-led defence must also take some credit as they had to soak the early pressure from Mexico before the goals began to rain.

    The kick-off of the match is 5pm Nigerian time.

  • Jonathan hails Eaglets

    President Goodluck Jonathan has  congratulated  the Golden Eaglets on their stunning victory over their Mexican counterparts in the on-going Under-17 World Championships holding  in the United Arab Emirates.

    As the nation celebrates the  victory however, President Jonathan in a statement by his spokeman, Dr Reuben Abati  urged the Eaglets to remember that they have just overcome their first opponents in a long tournament and must therefore stay focused on winning their subsequent matches.

    According to the President, the Eaglets should get to the finals and claim the championship once again for the country.

    He called  on the Eaglets to avoid all possible distractions and continue to display the exhilarating soccer skills, commitment and dedication which overwhelmed the Mexican team yesterday, in all of their subsequent matches.

    He assured  the Eaglets and their handlers of the steadfast support and encouragement of the Federal Government saying he  looks forward to another victory when they take on the Swedish youth team on Tuesday.

  • Iheanacho a star in the making – Eaglets coach

    Iheanacho a star in the making – Eaglets coach

    Golden Eaglets coach, Manu Garba, has tipped Kelechi Iheanacho to be one of the stars at the ongoing U-17 World Cup in the United Arab Emirates.

    MTNFootball.com reports that Iheanacho scored four goals as Nigeria dumped reigning champions Mexico 6-1 in an opening group game on Saturday.

    “I am not surprised that he was able to score four goals for us because he is a very good player and I have no doubt that he would be one of the stars to watch out for at this tournament,” Manu remarked.

    The four-goal hero revealed that he prayed for two goals and got even more.

    “Before the match, I specifically requested for two goals from God and after scoring the first two in the first half, I never knew God has better plans for us,” he said.

    “The glory of this victory belongs to all of us because it was a team effort and we are all looking forward to a good tournament.”

    He said the goals are to the memory of his late mother as well as his younger brother, Chibuike.

    Mrs. Iheanacho passed on in February and Iheanacho said her memories flooded back as he entered the pitch against the defending champions, adding that she would be proud of his achievement.

    “Of course, I remember my mum before the start of the match, but there is nothing I can do about her death. I dedicate the goals to her memory as well as to my younger brother, Chibuike Iheanacho, who I believe would be a very great player in the future,” he said.