The Nation Newspaper

Tag: Eaglets

  • Eaglets win final World Cup warm-up 3-1

    Eaglets win final World Cup warm-up 3-1

    • Beat Racing, off to Santiago

    Nigeria’s U-17 team, the Golden Eaglets rounded off their tour of Argentina on Monday with a convincing 3-1 win over the U-20 side of Racing Club of Buenos Aires.

    The coach Amuneke-led Eaglets  will on Tuesday depart for Santiago for the FIFA U-17 World Cup to be held in Chile between October 17 and November 8. Victor Osimhen grabbed a brace in the 12th and 56th  minute while Samuel Chukwueze added a third for the Eaglets. Gutiares scored for Racing in the highly entertaining  match.

    Amuneke described the impressive  performance of the Eaglets as very encouraging, adding that the pre-World Cup camping in Buenos Aires has added value to the team’s preparation ahead of Chile 2015.

    “The most important thing is to see the players grow from strength to strength and I’m particularly pleased with their performance against Racing today,” Amuneke told thenff.com “We are impressed because the Eaglets were able to implement all what we have been teaching them since we started.”

    He was also of the view that winning their two-match friendly against the Argentine U-17 (2-1) and U-20 side of Racing Club (3-1) has positively boosted their morale before their departure to Chile.

    “We are not getting carried away despite winning our two matches here but we are happy we have achieved part of our objectives of coming to Argentina but we are grateful for the opportunity to be here for our preparation;  we have been struggling to adjust to the cold weather since it is colder in Chile.

    “The World Cup is a different ball game because all the 24 teams have the chance to win but we are going to Chile with the objective of defending the trophy and we are looking forward to a good tournament.”

    Meanwhile, a squad of 21 players and 10 officials including NFF Assistant Director (Technical), Siji Lagunju  on Tuesday evening headed to Santiago for the defense of the FIFA U-17 World Cup won for a record fourth time by Nigeria two years ago in the UAE. The Golden Eaglets have been drawn against USA, Croatia and hosts, Chile in Group A.

  • NFF: Eaglets off to Argentina today

    NFF: Eaglets off to Argentina today

    The Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) has announced the Golden Eaglets will finally fly out for a pre-World Cup training camp in Argentina today after several delays.

    “We have sorted all the logistics concerning the Eaglets training in Argentina and they will now leave on Thursday,” disclosed NFF general secretary Mohammed Sanusi.

    The team of 25 players are expected to make the trip, which was previously delayed because of visa issues.

    Nigeria are the defending U-17 world champions and they are drawn in a first round group with hosts Chile, Croatia and United States of America. They begin their title defence on October 17 against USA in Santiago.

  • Eaglets lose 3-2 to World Cup rivals Croatia

    Eaglets lose 3-2 to World Cup rivals Croatia

    Nigeria’s Golden Eaglets lost 3-2 to Croatia in their final match of the Suwon International Cup on Sunday.

    The Eaglets thus finished on four points after they beat Brazil 2-1 and drew 1-1 with hosts South Korea.

    The result of the match will determine the overall winners of the competition.

    Brazil have three points, while Korea are on two points.

    Incidentally, Nigeria and Croatia will clash again at the FIFA U-17 World Cup in Chile in October.

    The Eaglets, who are the reigning world champions, will train in Argentina for the World Cup in Chile.

  • Eaglets head to Korea without Nwakali, Udofia

    Eaglets head to Korea without Nwakali, Udofia

    The delegation of U-17 National Team, Golden Eaglets, departed for the Four-Nation Suwon Invitational Tournament yesterday without team captain Kelechi Nwakali and coordinator Prince Udofia.

    Thenff.com learnt that the Embassy of Korea Republic in Nigeria had returned the passports of the Eaglets’ skipper and team coordinator as ‘unreadable’ – a rather strange explanation given that the two persons had been travelling with the same passports for years now.

    “We don’t know what they mean by ‘unreadable’ because the player, Nwakali and the team coordinator, Udofia, have been using these same passports without any issues.

    “In any event, we are working hard to see what we can do and make the Embassy issue visas to these two persons on Monday,so that they can travel on Tuesday to join the Golden Eaglets’ delegation”an NFF protocol official said.

    The development meant 17 players travelled by Qatar Airways on Sunday, to arrive at Korea Republic’s capital, Seoul on Monday evening for the tournament that the NFF believes will stoke competition spirit in the Eaglets ahead of their defence of the FIFA U-17 World Cup title in Chile in seven weeks’ time.

    Nigeria play hosts Korea, Croatia and Brazil at the Four-Nation tournament, which the Golden Eaglets also took part in ahead of their triumph at the FIFA U-17 World Cup hosted by the Koreans in 2007.

    Meanwhile, Super Eagles’ forward, Odion Ighalo, on Sunday bid the Golden Eaglets farewell as they depart the country for the 4-Nation Suwon Invitational Tournament in South Korea.

    The striker, who plies his trade with Watford FC, was an instant hit with the fledgling youngsters at the Nnamdi Azikwe International Airport in Abuja en route to Korea via Lagos as he exchanged pleasantries with players and officials of the team.

    “I want to wish you best of luck on this trip as well as the World Cup in Chile,” Ighalo said flashing his trademark smile.”You guys have to work hard.”

    Meanwhile, Chairman of Nationwide League One, Ahmad Kawu on Sunday led the Golden Eaglets to the tournament in South Korea as its leader of delegation.

    Kawu was also with the coach Emmanuel Amuneke-led side when they went for a two-match tour of Cairo in 2014 as well as the 2015 African U-17 Championship in Niger. He led the team  to Doha where they took a connecting flight to Korea.

    Before departing Nigeria, Amuneke reiterated that the tournament was going to be a good test run for the Eaglets’ Class of 2015.

    “We are going to Korea not just for the fun of it,” he told the players during the last training session in Abuja on Saturday. “We are going to meet other teams that have also qualified for the World Cup and that means we have to work hard.”

  • Amuneke confident in Eaglets’ chances in Chile

    Amuneke confident in Eaglets’ chances in Chile

    •Says NFF will aid team’s flawless preparations for World Cup

    Golden Eaglets head coach, Emmanuel Amuneke has expressed his determination that he is convinced that the Nigeria Football Federation(NFF) will make a near flawless arrangement for the cadet team ahead of the FIFA U17 World Cup slated for Chile in October this year.

    Nigeria are the defending champions after they defeated the then reigning champions, Mexico 3-0 in the final in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates in 2013 FIFA U17 World Cup and they are under pressure to replicate same feat in Chile.

    The coach of the team, Amuneke in a chat with SportingLife said that they have started serious training in Katsina their near abode after sometime in Sokoto and that after practise sessions for some time they would be engaging in some friendly matches.

    He said they would start with games with teams within and around Katsina before they will take it to the next level and eventually travel out on training tour.

    Amuneke told SportingLife: “We are now in Katsina and we have started training very hard in anticipation of the World Cup in Chile. We have started our own and we are hoping that the NFF will do their own part too. We are confident that we are going to get good friendly matches to aid our preparations.

    “I am also convinced that the choice of Argentina for close camping exercises will be for our own good.”

    Amuneke has expressed delight with the choice of Argentina for the training tour adding that the country has similar weather condition as Chile who are billed to host the world.

    The Eaglets are in Group A alongside hosts, Chile, Croatia and USA and they will open their competition account with USA on October 17 at Estadio Nacional Julio Martínez Prádanos, Santiago before games with Chile and Croatia on October 20 and 23 respectively at  Estadio Sausalito, Viña del Mar and Estadio Municipal Francisco Sánchez Rumoroso, Coquimbo in that order.

    The competition in Chile starts from October 17 and ends on November 8.

  • NFF confident Eaglets will do well in Chile

    NFF confident Eaglets will do well in Chile

    General Secretary of Nigeria Football Federation, Mohammed Sanusi on Wednesday visited the Golden Eaglets at their Katsina Motel camp in Katsina, with a message of goodwill and support from the NFF Executive Committee, as the team continues preparations for this year’s FIFA U-17 World Cup finals in Chile.

    Also on hand to encourage the team were NFF Board Members, Ibrahim Musa Gusau and Ahmed Yusuf Fresh. Speaking to players and officials just before dinner, Sanusi harped on the team’s discipline while commending the technical and back-room staff for their commitment to the job.

    “I bring greetings to you on behalf of the NFF board led by the President, Amaju Pinnick and we have no doubt you would enjoy the best of hospitality here in Katsina,” began Sanusi. “But I want to remind you that without discipline, you cannot go far in your career and give your best.”

    Speaking further, he said the NFF has implicit confidence in the ability of the technical crew in picking   the best squad to represent the country in Chile, explaining to the players to give their level best.

    “I want you to know that no coach would overlook a good player and no coach wants to lose, so it is now left for you to do your best,” he said.”The officials you have with you are responsible and diligent persons because while in Niger Republic for the Africa Championship, I saw the kind of good job they did with the team and I believe they will be fair to all of you.”

    Coach Emmanuel Amuneke, who gave vote of thanks, said the Golden Eaglets would give a good account of themselves in Chile, adding that team selection had always been done without fear or favour.

  • Eaglets Korea tourney returns

    Eaglets Korea tourney returns

    The Golden Eaglets are expected to step up their preparations for the FIFA U17 World Cup in Chile by taking part in an invitational tournament in South Korea, which was moved because of an epidemic in that country.

    Defending world champions Nigeria were to have featured in the tournament in June, but the competition was shifted because of  ‘MERS’ (Middle East Respiratory Syndrome) epidemic, which accounted for some deaths in Korea.

    The tourney will now be staged at the end of the month with the likes of Brazil and host country expected to feature.

    The Golden Eaglets are drawn with hosts Chile, Croatia and the USA in the first round of the U17 World Cup, which will be played from October.

  • Eaglets get FIFA U-17 World Cup opponents today

    Eaglets get FIFA U-17 World Cup opponents today

    World Champions, Golden Eaglets of Nigeria, will today know the identity of their group phase opponents as the draw ceremony for the 2015 FIFA U-17 World Cup holds in Santiago, capital of Chile.

    The Official Draw is billed to take place at the massive Art Centre 660 at 20:00hrs local time (12:00 midnight in Nigeria) and the 24 qualified countries would be drawn into six groups of four teams each.

    Defending champions and four-time winners Nigeria and host Chile would most likely be the seeded teams in their respective groups of this year’s FIFA U-17 World Cup.

    Speaking ahead of the draw, Golden Eaglets’ Head Coach Emmanuel Amuneke, said he was not expecting an easy draw since all the qualified teams have the same ambition of winning the FIFA U-17 trophy, adding that the Nigerian youngsters would be ready to defend their title.

    “We are waiting to see who and who we are going to meet after the draw on Thursday,” said the former African Footballer of the Year. “Though we don’t have the luxury of choosing the teams we want, we are preparing very well for the tournament and we would be ready to give a good account of ourselves.”

    Meanwhile, the 24 -team cast is made up of six from Europe (Belgium, France, Germany, Russia, Croatia and England); four from Asia (Australia, Korea Republic, Syria and  Korea DPR); four from North America (Mexico, Honduras, Costa Rica and USA); five from South America (Brazil, Argentina, Ecuador, Paraguay and host Chile); one from Oceania (New Zealand) and; the African quartet of Mali, Guinea, South Africa and Nigeria .

    The 2015 FIFA U-17 World Cup would be held between October 17 and November 8 across eight Chilean cities, namely La Serena, Coquimbo, Vina Del Mar, Chillan, Talca, Santiago De Chile, Concepcion and  Puerto Montt.

  • Epidemic shifts Eaglets’ Korea tourney

    Epidemic shifts Eaglets’ Korea tourney

    An invitational tournament in Korea Republic to prepare the Golden Eaglets for the U17 World Cup in Chile has been moved on account of an outbreak of the ‘MERS’ (Middle East Respiratory Syndrome) epidemic, which has killed two in Korea thus far.

    The tournament was to have started next week. Over 700 people have been isolated as health officials seek to contain the epidemic.

    FIFA match agent, Jairo Pachon of Eurodata Sport, said on Wednesday that organisers are pained but feel it is the correct decision in the circumstances, in order to protect the participating players and officials of all four countries – Korea Republic, Nigeria, USA and Brazil.

    “It is an unfortunate situation for the Korean people and we feel their discomfort at this period. We hope that they will be able to solve the issue quickly,” said Jairo Pachon.

    A new date will be chosen for the invitational tournament in the month of August 2015.

  • Eaglets beat Youth Sport Management team 3-0

    Eaglets beat Youth Sport Management team 3-0

    Nigeria’s U-17 team, Golden Eaglets on Wednesday defeated Youth Sport Management Team 3-0 at the NFF\FIFA Project Pitch in Abuja.

    The match against the Lagos-based side was Golden Eaglets’ 35th friendly match with local teams with an impressive record of 31 wins; three draws and a loss. It was also an opportunity for new -found recruits to contest for places in the 2015 World Cup-bound squad.

    Ginger -haired Gavin Thompson grabbed a 30th minute opener, and his first goal in national team colors, albeit from the spot kick after Akanni Sodik was brought down in the box. Taofeek Jibril doubled the lead for the Golden Eaglets 15 minutes later when he flicked a header into the net after a goal -mouth melee.

    Coach Emmanuel Amuneke brought a new set of players including Captain Kelechi Nwakali and striker Victor Osimhen in the second stanza. In the 63rd minutes, Osimhen floated a through pass to Nduka Ebere who rounded off his marker before burying the ball beyond goalkeeper Adebayo Adeleye.

    Amuneke described the performance of his wards as reassuring, adding that competition amongst the old and new players is exciting.

    “This was a good match for us though we arrived early this morning from Lagos for the match,” said Ita Bassey, Chief Scout of Youth Sport Management. The Golden Eaglets had a better performance and we pray they do even much better in Chile.”

    The 2015 FIFA U-17 World Cup will be held between October 17 and November 8 in Chile, South America.