The Nation Newspaper

Tag: Golden Eaglets

  • Golden Eaglets clash with Racing Club

    Golden Eaglets clash with Racing Club

    Nigeria’s U-17 team, Golden Eaglets would play their second and last warm up match before heading to  Santiago  for the 16th edition of the FIFA U-17 World Cup against the U-20 side of Argentine top side, Racing Club de Avellaneda on Monday  at the club’s central training pitch at Tita Mattiussi located in Greater Buenos Aires.

    The match,  which  organizers  said would kick off at 10am Argentine time (exactly 1:00pm Nigerian time), is another opportunity for the coach Emmanuel Amuneke-led Eaglets to test their readiness to defend the trophy won by Nigeria for a record fourth time two years ago in the UAE. The Golden Eaglets last Wednesday beat their Argentinean counterparts 2-1 at the AFA Training Centre.

    Meanwhile, Amuneke has reiterated that the best players have been picked to represent Nigeria at FIFA U-17 World Cup, which kicks off this weekend with the Golden Eaglets playing their first match against the USA on October 17 at Estadio Nacional Julio Martínez Prádanos in Santiago.

    “We started this journey in 2014 and I have seen a lot of players come and go; both the good and not so good but many of them  are not with us today,” Amuneke told thenff.com. “Of course, we would have loved to see some of them (in Chile) particularly those that started the struggle with us and secured the ticket that qualified us for Niger; and some others who were with us in Niger but unfortunately, they are not here.

    “The list has been long in coming from 60 to 40 to 35 to 25 and eventually we have only 21 going to the World Cup with us. Frankly, we have done a good job because we have been fair to everyone in the process but of course, we cannot please everybody,” he noted.

     

  • Nigeria unveils U-17 World Cup squad

    Nigeria unveils U-17 World Cup squad

    Golden Eaglets coach, Emmanuel Amuneke, has named his 21-man squad for the FIFA U-17 World Cup in Chile.

    Nigeria would be hoping to defend the world title it won two years ago at the United Arab Emirates and will meet Chile, USA and Croatia in Group A, Goal reports.

    Key members of the squad such Victor Osimhen, Victor Nwakali and Samuel Chukwueze made the list.

    There are three goalkeepers, four defenders, eight midfielders and six strikers in the squad.

    The squad:

    GOALKEEPERS: Akpan Udoh, Amos Benjamin, Chisom Chiaha

    DEFENDERS: Tobechukwu Ibe, Lukman Zakari, Ejike Ikwu, John Lazarus

    MIDFIELDERS: David Enogela, Kingsley Michael, Samuel Chukwueze, Edidiong Essien, Chukwudi Agor, Joel Osikel, Kelechi Nwakali, Chinedu Madueke

    FORWARD: Funsho Bamgboye, Victor Osimhen, Sunday Alimi, Udochukwu Anumudu, Orji Okwonkwo, Osinachi Ebere

  • Eaglets play Argentina Tuesday

    Eaglets play Argentina Tuesday

    The Golden Eaglets of Nigeria will play Argentina U-17 team in Buenos Aires on Tuesday as part of the team preparations for this month’s U-17 World Cup in Chile.

    The Nigerian youngsters will also face either the U-20 team of clubs sides Racing FC or Boca Juniors on October 11 before flying to Santiago, Chile, africanFootball.com reports.

    The Golden Eaglets arrived in Argentina on Friday and had been training in the country’s capital ahead of the tournament.

    Eaglets’ head coach, Emmanuel Amuneke, said the facilities in Buenos Aires are of a high standard and will aid the team preparations.

    Meanwhile, South Africa played Brazil in a practice match on Sunday as both teams continued their preparations for the tournament.

    The 2015 U-17 World Cup will be held from 17 October to 8 November. Alongside Nigeria and South Africa, the other African qualifiers are Guinea and Mali.

     

  • Amuneke unveils Eaglets’ pre-World Cup squad

    Amuneke unveils Eaglets’ pre-World Cup squad

    Golden Eaglets’ coach, Emmanuel Amuneke, has named a provisional squad of 25 players for a pre-U-17 World Cup training camp in Argentina.

    The squad led by skipper Kelechi Nwakali departed Abuja for Buenos Aires on Thursday, africanFootball.com reports.

    The reigning world champions will meet the Argentina U-17 team as well as the U-20 team of either Boca Juniors or Racing Club while in the South American nation.

    Four players will be dropped before the team head off to Chile.

    Nigeria plays in Group A along with tournament hosts Chile, USA and Croatia.

    The squad:

    Goalkeepers: Udoh Akpan, Benjamin Amos, Chiaha Chisom, Yunusa Abdullahi,

    Defenders: John Lazarus, Halilu Lukman, Tochukwu Okoli, Ibe Tobechukwu, Ejike Ikwu, Samuel Opeh, Michael Edidiong Ndochukwu Anumudu

    Midfielders: Kelechi Nwakali, Kingsley Michael, Taiwo Alimi, Joel Osikel, Agor Chukwudi, Chinedu Madueke

    Strikers: Victor Osimhen, Samuel Chukwueze, Ebere Osinachi, Orji Okonkwo, Gavi Thompson, Funsho Bamgboye, David Enogela

  • Eaglets can retain U-17 World Cup – Amuneke

    Eaglets can retain U-17 World Cup – Amuneke

    Golden Eaglets coach, Emmanuel Amuneke, said the team is determined to retain the FIFA U-17 World Cup at next month’s tournament in Chile.

    Nigeria is the defending champions of the cadet World Cup and Amuneke believes the current generation can claim the trophy for a second successive time.

    “Our target is to go there and retain the title we won two years ago. “It is normal that we expect to win it because we are defending champions.

    “We have been training hard and preparing the boys for the tournament and gradually they are taking shape so we hope we will go there and win,” he told africanFootball.com.

    Amuneke, a member of Nigeria’s coaching staff at the 2013 U-17 World Cup in United Arab Emirate, however admitted that his side will face some challenges along the way.

    “It won’t be easy to be honest because the other teams that have qualified also only have one thing in mind, which is to win the title as well. That is why it won’t be easy,” Amuneke added.

  • Eaglets jet out to Argentina Tuesday

    Eaglets jet out to Argentina Tuesday

    The Golden Eaglets will depart for a training camp in Argentina on Tuesday ahead of the FIFA U-17 World Cup in Chile, officials have informed africanFootball.com

    Nigeria is the defending champions after winning a record fourth title in United Arab Emirates in 2013.

    The Nigerian school boys only recently returned from an invitational tournament in South Korea, where they placed third behind winners Brazil and runners-up Croatia.

    Incidentally, Nigeria will battle Croatia at the World Cup in Chile after losing to the same team 2-3 at the invitational tourney.

  • Eaglets finish third at Korea tourney

    Eaglets finish third at Korea tourney

    Nigeria’s Golden Eaglets placed third at the Suwon Continental Cup International Youth Tournament in Korea on Sunday.

    The defending world champions recorded four points from three matches, africanFootball.com reports.

    Brazil won the invitational tournament to prepare teams for the U-17 World Cup in Chile after defeating hosts Korea 2-0 in the final game to record six points.

    Croatia came second outscoring the Eaglets 3-2 to finish on four points and a better goals difference than Nigeria.

    Both Nigeria and Croatia will clash again at the World Cup in October.

    The hosts finished bottom with two points after drawing with Nigeria and Croatia.

  • Eaglets defeat Brazil in South Korea tourney

    Eaglets defeat Brazil in South Korea tourney

    Nigeria Golden Eaglets shot to the top of the Continental Cup Tournament after defeating Brazil 2-1  in Suwon, South Korea, Friday.

    The Nigerian youngsters lead the four-nation tournament with four points following their 1-1 draw with hosts South Korea on Wednesday, africanFootball.com reports.

    Kingsley Michael and Chukwudi Agor scored two first half goals, while David Enogela conceded a second-half own goal.

    The team was boosted with the arrival of skipper Kelechi Nwakali, who was a 54th minute substitute in the match.

    Nigeria went into the lead through Michael in the 20th minute, when he delicately placed the ball behind Juliano after the burly goalkeeper deflected Victor Oshimen’s powerful shot into his path.

    The reigning world champions scored again 12 minutes later when Osimhen laid the ball on the path of Agor who shot from acute angle to score his first goal in national team colours.

    The Brazilians swooped on the Eaglets in the second half and Evander saw his shot ricocheted off the bar in the 54th minute and goalkeeper Udoh Akpan was at his best to punch away Vitinho’s volley in the 60th minute.

  • U-17 World Cup: Nwakali in Eaglets’ provisional squad

    U-17 World Cup: Nwakali in Eaglets’ provisional squad

    Golden Eaglets’ Skipper, Kelechi Nwakali, who is on the radar of Manchester City, is leading a core of players picked by Nigeria in a provisional squad for the FIFA U-17 World Cup in Chile, AfricanFootball.com reports.

    The 35-man squad was submitted to the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) several days before the FIFA deadline of the end of the month.

    There were initial fears Nwakali, younger brother of Chidiebere Nwakali who is already on the books of Manchester City, may not scrape through the latest MRI scan and so drop out of the World Cup, but that has now been quelled as he has maintained his initial status.

    Many expects Nwakali to feature at the World Cup in October as English Premier League outfit Manchester City plan to again run the rule on the exciting midfielder after initial transfer talks earlier this year broke down.

  • Amuneke fancies Eaglets’ World Cup chances

    Amuneke fancies Eaglets’ World Cup chances

    Golden Eaglets’ coach, Emmanuel Amuneke, believes his team can successfully defend its world title at this year’s FIFA U-17 World Cup finals in Chile.

    The defending champions had been drawn alongside hosts, Chile, Croatia and the United States in Group A of the competition which gets underway on October 17, supersport.com reports.

    Amuneke is bullish about his side’s chances in Chile but believes hard work cannot be substituted if success is to be attained in the South American nation.

    “We are defending champions and it is a privilege. All 24 teams going to Chile for the tournament are going with the aim of winning the title.

    “However, if we must win the title, we must work very hard. There are now two ways about that.

    “I am very concerned with what my players do on the pitch when they have the ball and when they do not have possession.

    “We want to win the title but we must work very hard,” he told supersport.com.

    Nigeria will play its first match against the U.S at Estadio Nacional Julio Martínez Prádanos, Santiago on October 17.

    Three days later, the Golden Eaglets face the onerous task of silencing vociferous home support at Viña del Mar’s Estadio Sausalito, when the team confronts hosts Chile in the second group match.

    The Amuneke wards then round off their preliminary campaign against Croatia at Estadio Municipal Francisco Sánchez Rumoroso, Coquimbo on October 23.

    Nigeria is the most successful country in the history of the FIFA U-17 World Cup with a record four triumphs.