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Tag: Eaglets

  • FIFA U-17 W/CUP DUBAI 2013 EAGLETS COACH, CAPTAIN FOR OFFICIAL DRAW

    FIFA U-17 W/CUP DUBAI 2013 EAGLETS COACH, CAPTAIN FOR OFFICIAL DRAW

    GOLDEN EAGLETS Head coach Manu Garba, has been invited as one of the guests to witness the Official Draw of the FIFA Under-17 World Cup 2013 to be held at 19.00 local time(4pm Nigerian time) on Monday, 26 August 2013 in the Fairmont Bab al Bahr, Abu Dhabi.

    The world soccer governing body, FIFA in conjunction with the Higher Local Organising Committee (LOC) for the FIFA Under-17 World Cup 2013 equally extended the invitation to the team’s administrator,Tayo Egbaiyelo and Captain Musa Muhammed.

    The Golden Eaglets including three other African hope bearers-Cote d’Ivoire, Tunisia, Morocco and 20 other qualified countries will be drawn into six groups of four, with the top two teams in each group automatically qualifying for the round of 16. The four best third-placed teams from the group stages will also progress to the knock-out stages. Already, the Golden Eaglets’ contingent has been provided with the travelling logistics and would depart Abuja for Abu Dhabi via Ethiopia today. Apart from witnessing the glitz of the draw, various other activities are lined up for all the attendees including seminars, inspection of teams’ colours amongst others.

    Expectedly, coach Garba has refrained from speaking ahead of the draw but the general belief in the rank and file of the team is that the Golden Eaglets would be at the ready to face the rest of the world in October.

    The Nigerian Under-17 team is one of the best teams at this level after being crowned champions on three previous occasions in 1985, 1993, 2007 and runners-up in three other previous occasions: 1987; 2001 and 2009. Already, a provisional list of 35 players have been selected and submitted to FIFA for the World Cup.

  • Age scare: More Eaglets to be thrown out

    Age scare: More Eaglets to be thrown out

    Nigeria’s U17 team will be further decimated after a decision to throw out more players who are on the borderline of a recent age test.

    MTNFootball.com can specially report that officials have recommended that players who are on grade 5 of the recent MRI test be asked to go rather than risk them for the FIFA U17 World Cup in the United Arab Emirates.

    FIFA accept grade 5 for the U17 World Cup, but officials have said players on that grade from the recent MRI scan could well be past that grade by the time of the tournament.

    There is also the possibility that the MRI machine used in Nigeria may not be as sophisticated as what would eventually be used at UAE.

    Confused U17 officials had divided the players on grade 5 into A and B with those in A with a better chance to scale the age test in Dubai.

    However, this division was disregarded by medical experts, who said there was no basis for such division.

    “The final decision to do away with players on grade 5 has thrown the Eaglets into more confusion as it means many more players will now have to be decamped,” a top official informed MTNFootball.com

    “We don’t wish to take unnecessary risks.

    “It simply means the coaches have to draft capable replacements for the players to be affected by this.”

    The FIFA U17 World Cup in the UAE will be played from October 17 with the draw to be staged on August 26 in Abu Dhabi.

  • Eaglets demolish Cross River U-18

    Eaglets demolish Cross River U-18

     •Manu down plays results, vows to parade a strong team in UAE

     

    The Golden Eaglets were back to winning ways again following a 10-0 whitewashing of the Cross River State’s Under-18 at the practice pitch of the U.J Esuene Sports Stadium in Calabar on Saturday.

    It was the team’s second match since they lost 5-4 on penalty shootout to Cote d’Ivoire in the final of the 10th African Under-17 Championship in Morocco last April.

    Last month, their new recruits held Taraba State’s Academy to a 1-1 draw during the screening exercise at the NFF/FIFA Goal Project Centre in Abuja.

    But barely a week of closed-camping of both the old guards and new discoveries in Calabar, the Nigerian Under-17 team were back to their goal-rious element as the Coach Manu Garba boys went on rampage against the Cross River State’s side preparing for the maiden edition of National Youth Sports Festival to be hosted by Abuja in September.

    New striking sensation, Theophilus Solomon who was sourced from the Abuja Soccer Academy, was the cynosure of all eyes when he grabbed the only hat trick of the match after coming on as a second half substitute for Isaac Success.

    But it was Success, the CAN U-17 top scorer, that actually scored the second and the third goal of the match after midfielder, Ifeanyi Matthew had opened floodgate for the Golden Eaglets from a 20-yard volley.

    There were also goals from former National Under-15 contingent led by Kelechi Iheanacho; Chidera Ezeh and Jacob Njoku as well as the team’s captain, Musa Muhammed in what looked like a one-sided affair. Coach of the side however maintained that the building process is still own, adding that the aim is to parade a formidable team at the World Cup

    “Although it is early , there are many positives from this match, said Coach Garba after Saturday’s win.

    Our team is not on the same level with the opposition but you can see that there is a synergy between the old players and the new ones recently picked from the screening exercise.

    We would continue to work on the team and by the grace of God, we shall have a solid team for the World Cup, he maintained.

    The Eaglets are hoping they can conquer the world again as they hope to replicate the 2009 set that last won the Cadet trophy after previous successes in 1985 and 1993.

  • Eaglets to undergo fresh MRI scans

    Eaglets to undergo fresh MRI scans

    The Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) has ordered players that featured at the last CAN Under-17 tournament in Morocco as well as their counterparts picked from a screening exercise, to undergo the mandatory Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) scan, before reporting at the team’s Princeville Hotel Camp, which opens today in Calabar.

    Dr. Emmanuel Ikpeme, the Federation’s Director Technical, informed that it was imperative that some of the players that won the silver medal last April, be subjected to the MRI scan yet again since confirmation is needed to determine their present status.

    The MRI test has become a regular feature at the FIFA Under-17 World Cup since 2009 to help ascertain whether players are over-age or not and Dr. Ikpeme said the NFF would follow the rule as stipulated by world soccer ruling body, FIFA, to the letter.

    “We are conscious of the fact that only players within the stipulated age brackets would be allowed to compete at the FIFA World Cup,” he said. “As a result, we are equally extending the MRI test to some of the players that represented the country in Morocco.”

    It was learnt that only players that fall between Grades 1 and 5 of the MRI scan are eligible for the world championship consequently the need for an empirical test to ascertain the veracity of those who were in Grades 3 to 5 during the African Cadet Championship in Morocco.

    “We are taking every necessary step to avoid any untoward incident at the World Cup, especially when we were informed by our medical team that the MRI scan deals with the rate of bone growth which cannot be determined on face value,” Ikpeme further explained.

    All the shortlisted 30 players and numerous others on standby are due in Abuja to undergo the MRI scan at the Abuja National Hospital before proceeding to Calabar to begin preparation in earnest for the trip to UAE in October.

    Meanwhile, Oswald Atuake, Vice Chairman of the Cross River State FA, has said all necessary arrangements have been made for the Golden Eaglets to enjoy their stay in Calabar.

    “As you know, we don’t do things at half measure in Cross River State especially when our sport-loving Governor, Senator Liyel Imoke (CON), has approved your camping here for the World Cup,” he said. “We are ready and just waiting for the arrival of the team.”

  • NFF orders fresh MRI test for Eaglets

    Determined to ensure that false age declaration is eradicated in Nigerian football, the nation’s football federation has slammed a compulsory MRI test on the current U-17 national team players

    The Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) has ordered a fresh Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) test for the current players of the current U-17 national team.
    Players who  featured at the last CAN Under-17 tournament in Morocco and  their counterparts picked from the screening exercise are  to undergo the mandatory test.
    The text will  be done before they report at the team’s Princeville Hotel Camp which opens on Monday (July 22) in Calabar.
    Emmanuel Ikpeme, the Federation’s Director Technical, informed that a repeat of the test was necessary to ascertain player’s current status.
    The MRI test has become a regular feature at the FIFA Under-17 World Cup since 2009 to help ascertain whether players are over age or not.
    Ikpeme said the NFF will follow the rule as stipulated by the world soccer ruling body, FIFA, to the letter.
    “We are conscious of the fact that only players within the stipulated age brackets would be allowed to compete at the FIFA World Cup,” he said. “As a result, we are equally extending the MRI test to some of the players that represented the country in Morocco.
    “We are taking every necessary step to avoid any untoward incident at the World Cup especially when we were informed by our medical team that the MRI scan deals with the rate of bone growth which cannot be determined on face value,” Ikpeme  explained.
    All the shortlisted 30 players and  numerous others on standby are due  in Abuja to undergo  the test.
  • Golden Eaglets’ camp opens in Abuja

    Golden Eaglets’ camp opens in Abuja

    THE National Under-17 team would begin preparations in earnest for the forthcoming FIFA Under-17 World Cup in the United Arab Emirates with the screening of new players in Abuja next week.

    The two-week exercise according to Head coach, Manu Garba is to fish out new talented players to augment the team that nearly won the 10th CAN Under-17 Championship in Morocco last March. Already players scouted across the country during the break are expected to report to The NFF/FIFA GOAL Project Site in Abuja on Sunday even as Garba warns that this is not an all comer affairs.

    “It is important that we have a look at some new players for some specific positions because what we want is the best for the country,” said Garba, a Gold medal winner at the 2007 FIFA U-17 World Cup in Korea.

    “We are really grateful that the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) has approved our programme towards the World Cup in the UAE and hopefully we are going to get some good players to beef up the team that came second at the African championship.”

    It would be recalled that Garba had promised to audit the Golden Eaglets in a post-mortem analysis of the African Championship after his wards were trumped 5-4 on penalties by Cote d’Ivoire following a pulsating 1-1 draw in the finale.

    “We are going to fortify the team despite the fact that some of these players secured us the ticket to the World Cup,” noted Garba, “and we are going to look for quality replacements before going for the World Cup in the UAE.”

    Meanwhile, players picked from the screening exercise would undergo the mandatory Magnetic Image Resonance (MRI) Test to ascertain if they are within the stipulated age bracket before the team’s close camping ahead of the World Cup in UAE between October 17 and November 8.

  • Presidential reception for Eaglets, Flying Eagles

    President Goodluck Jonathan will on Tuesday host the country’s U-17 and U-20 teams, officials disclosed.

    The Golden Eaglets were beaten finalists at the African U-17 Championship in Morocco, while the Flying Eagles placed third at the African Youth Championship in Algeria. The Golden Eaglets lost on penalties to Cote d’Ivoire after final scores stood at 1-1 in the championship final in Marrakech.

    The U-20s defeated Mali 2-1 in a third-place match to avenge a 1-0 loss to the West African rivals. Both teams have qualified for their respective World Cups and Nigeria can boast of a special record of having medalled in Africa at full international, U-20 and U-17 levels in one calendar year.

    Top government and sports ministry officials have been locked in talks over the presidential reception.

    A top official informed MTNFootball.com: “The President will receive the teams on Tuesday at Aso Rock. All arrangements in this regard have been finalised.”

    However, the Flying Eagles are to be honoured in absentia as they are currently in Germany on a training tour ahead of the U-20 World Cup in Turkey next month.

    Interestingly, they won the 2011 African Youth Championship in South Africa but were not honoured.

    President Jonathan rewarded the Super Eagles with national honours, cash and plots of land when they won a third Africa Cup of Nations in South Africa in February.

  • 2013 World Cup: NSC top brass tasks Golden Eaglets

    2013 World Cup: NSC top brass tasks Golden Eaglets

    As Africa’s second best team returns Wednesday

    The National Sports Commission (NSC) has commended the Golden Eaglets for finishing as Africa’s second best team at the recently concluded 2013 CAN Under-17 Championship hosted by Morocco.

    This much was stated by Mustapha Mohammed, the newly appointed Acting Director-General of the NSC before his departure from Marrakech for Abuja, after watching a pulsating final between Nigeria and Cote d’Ivoire last Saturday. The match ended 5-4 in favour of the Baby Elephants in a penalty shootout after both teams had tied 1-1 in regulation time.

    “Over all, we have to commend the efforts of the Golden Eaglets because they did their best at this championship,” the D-G said matter-of-factly. “Of course, if they were a bit lucky, they would have beaten the Ivorians in the final match because they have the possibility in the first half with several opportunities.”

    Mohammed said the Golden Eaglets have the potential to go all the way at the forthcoming FIFA Under-17 World Cup in the UAE later in the year, adding that the NSC would continue to perform its oversight functions at ensuring that Nigeria reclaimed its glory in international football.

    “Personally, I think the Golden Eaglets can do better at the World Cup and I want to believe that the coaches and the Nigeria Football Federation have seen areas where more work has to be done. We would continue to support the NFF as part of our responsibilities,” he said.

    Similarly, Nigeria’s Ambassador to the Kingdom of Morocco, Senator Abdallah Wali, who watched almost all the team’s matches at the CAN Under-17 Championship, has enjoined the Golden Eaglets to be steadfast when they travel to the UAE in October.

    “They have done well here but we have all seen that they can do better if they work more, “he said. “ I believe in this team and we should continue to support them as they prepare to face the rest of the World in the UAE.”

  • NFF warns Eaglets against revenge

    NFF warns Eaglets against revenge

    The Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) has warned players of the national Under-17 team, the Golden Eaglets not to think of revenge when they face Ivory Coast’s under-17s in the final of the 2013 African Under-17 Championship today.

    The Golden Eaglets lost 0-1 to the Junior Elephants in the preliminaries; their only defeat thus far in the competition and with both sides meeting again in the showpiece game today, there have been whispers in some quarters that the Nigerian side will be looking to exact revenge on their West African neighbours.

    The NFF, through its technical committee chairman, Barrister Christopher Green however feels that would not be the right approach.

    “They cannot start thinking about revenge. The loss in the group stages was painful but at this age, it’s not just all about winning.

    “The players are in the formative stages of their careers so such thoughts will not be going in line with what we want them to achieve.

    “Of course, we want the title but the ultimate ambition is to see these boys still playing for the senior national team in years to come,” Green told supersport.com.

    Nigeria’s Golden Eaglets have scored an astonishing 17 goals in four matches in the competition.

    The Ivorians are the only side yet to concede against the Golden Eaglets.

  • Eaglets to be crowned champions again

    Eaglets to be crowned champions again

    Nigeria are set to be crowned U17 African champions again today at the expense of Cote d’Ivoire, the only team to have beaten them thus far.

    The Golden Eaglets have won the continental title twice with their last triumph being in 2007.

    However, they are up against an Ivorian side who have so far being the only team to have beaten them whether in a competitive or friendly game.

    Dogbole Niangbo’s late lone strike proved to be the difference between the two West African rivals when they clashed in a Group B match at the 2013 African U17 Championship in Morocco.

    The Eaglets defeated Tunisia 4-2 in the second semi- final, while Cote d’Ivoire saw off hosts Morocco 2-1 to book a place in the final, which kicks off 7.45 pm Nigerian time.

    Assistant coach Nduka Ugbade told MTNFootball.com his team have learnt from the loss to the Ivorians.

    “We have played the Ivorians before and we lost to a last minute goal. We have learnt from that game and I want to assure Nigerians that we will not fall a second time to the Ivorians,” he vowed.

    “We know that they have a compact midfield and play defensive football but we also know they could also attack like we saw against Morocco.”

    Chidera Ezeh also expressed confidence Nigeria will turn the table against the Baby Elephants.

    “We would do our home work ahead of the final,” he promised.

    “I know we have lost to them before but it won’t happen again.

    “We lost to them because we didn’t know anything about them, but now we know a lot about them and how they play. So for us, it’s revenge time.”

    Former Nigeria international and Nigeria football ambassador Nwankwo Kanu has tipped the Eaglets to also go all the way in Morocco.

    ‘Papilo’, who won the FIFA U17 World Cup in 1993, wrote on his Facebook wall that the Eaglets are champions in waiting.

    “The champions are one game to be crowned. Well done our dear Golden Eaglets! We are proud of them. So let’s keep praying for them,” Kanu said.

    Cote d’Ivoire coach Ibrahim Kamara is highly thought of and has two Europe-based players on his squad to Morocco – Bekanty Angban from Chelsea of England and Bile Bedia from Tours FC in France.

    They are bigger in size than their Nigerian foes and showed superb tactical awareness to beat the Eaglets with their effective counter attacking style.

    And goal scorer in the first clash Niangbo is still the man Nigeria must watch today.