The Nation Newspaper

Tag: Kelechi Nwakali

  • U-17 World Cup: Nigeria can’t underrate Brazil – Nwakali

    U-17 World Cup: Nigeria can’t underrate Brazil – Nwakali

    Golden Eaglets captain, Kelechi Nwakali, has warned his team cannot afford to underrate Brazil in Sunday’s FIFA U-17 World Cup quarter final clash although the team defeated the South American champions recently.

    Nigeria pipped mighty Brazil 2-1 at the Suwon International tournament in South Korea prior to the World Cup in Chile and while the Eaglets had cruised through to the last-eight of the World Cup, three-time champions Brazil labored to reach the stage, africanFootball.com reports.

    But skipper Nwakali said what will matter most on Sunday night will be what both teams do on the pitch.

    “It was just a friendly (Eaglets 2-1 win over Brazil in Korea), and this game will be totally different. It doesn’t matter what others say because we’ll never underestimate anyone, least of all Brazil,” africanFootball.com quoted Nwakali as saying in an interview with FIFA.com

    “It’s a mistake to say that simply because we beat Australia 6-0 and the Brazilians beat New Zealand 1-0. It doesn’t matter how they won. They won because they were better and that’s all we should be worried about.”

    Nigeria has won the U-17 World Cup a record four times – 1985, 1993, 2007 and 2013 – and the captain declared the team wants to make it a fifth time in Chile.

  • 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

  • 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.

  • Agents demand £4m for Eaglets star

    Agents demand £4m for Eaglets star

    Agents have asked Manchester City to fork out a staggering four million pounds for Nigeria U-17 skipper Kelechi Nwakali, africanFootball.com reports.

    Highly-rated Nwakali recently trained with City in England with a view to signing a pre-contract agreement with the former English champions.

    However, africanFootball.com gathered that what stalled the transfer of the Eaglets star to Ettihad was the staggering sum of four million pounds the agents working for the youngster tabled before City.

    “The agents of Kelechi want four million pounds for the player. That was the reason talks have stalled,” a top official told africanFootball.com.

    Kelechi’s older brother and Flying Eagles ace, Chidiebere, is believed to have cost Manchester City over a million pounds.