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Tag: U-17 World Cup

  • BREAKING: 1985 U-17 World Cup winning coach, dies at 85

    BREAKING: 1985 U-17 World Cup winning coach, dies at 85

    Former Golden Eaglets coach, Sebastine Brodericks-Imasuen, who led the Eaglets to win the inaugural U-17 World Cup in 1985 is reportedly dead.

    The late Nigerian coach was reportedly on life support for more than a year at the University of Benin Teaching Hospital.

    According to reports, Brodericks-Imasuen, 85, was having treatment for an ischemic stroke that he was diagnosed with in December 2022.

    Ischemic stroke occurs when a blood clot blocks or narrows an artery leading to the brain.

    The story was originally leaked by Bamidele Oguntuashe, a player that Brodericks-Imasuen trained for the 1989 U17 World Cup in Scotland. Harrison Jalla, the Chairman of the Professional Footballers Association of Nigeria Task Force, then confirmed it via a WhatsApp message.

    Jalla cited family sources for the death of the iconic coach who had been bed-ridden for a few months now.

    Read Also: Sad Sebastian Brodericks!

    He reportedly also suffered from a stroke and diabetes.

    The late coach was one of the football players who represented  Nigeria at the Mexico Olympic Games in 1968 and famously scored from a free kick to win the then Challenge Cup for Bendel Insurance in 1972.

    In his role as coach, he oversaw a three-person squad that also comprised Christian Chukwu and Bala Shamaki when the Nigerian team stunned the world in China in 1985.

    Details shortly…

  • U-17 World Cup Fall-Out: Nigerian Sports Editors task NFF, NSC on fruits of Eaglets’ triumph

    U-17 World Cup Fall-Out: Nigerian Sports Editors task NFF, NSC on fruits of Eaglets’ triumph

    Nigerian Sports Editors Guild, the umbrella body of the managers of sports of the country’s media outfits, has congratulated the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) and the National Sports Commission (NSC) over the Golden Eaglets’ victory at the just-concluded FIFA U-17 World Cup.

    The Guild,which described the victory as a ‘testament of the enormous talents available in the country, as well as the tenacity of the Nigerian spirit,’ urged both bodies to see the triumph as the beginning of the revival of the nation’s football.

    According to the statement signed by the Guild’s President,  Tony Ubani,“the Golden Eaglets’ success will become meaningless if those saddled with the responsibility of growing Nigerian sports did not leverage on the talents that won the cup in Chile to build a strong senior national team.

    “We have seen instances where previous triumphs were mismanaged such that the senior national team did not benefit from the talent pool thrown up by the U-17 World Cup.

    “We are of no doubt that the current leadership of the NFF and the NSC would build on this success and others of the recent past to give Nigerians the national team of their dream.The recent developments in the NFF and the NSC point to a new direction  for the nation’s football and we pledge our willingness to help in actualising the Nigerian dream.”

    The Guild also urged the NFF and the NSC to ensure the members of the team were not lured by unscrupulous agents into signing bad contracts with clubs in obscure leagues, adding that “the career moves they make now would determine their football future and their usefulness to the country.

  • Buhari congratulates world-conquering Eaglets

    Buhari congratulates world-conquering Eaglets

    President Muhammadu Buhari on Monday congratulated the Golden Eaglets for winning this year FIFA U-17 World Cup in Chile.

    The Eaglets on Monday morning defeated the Malian U-17 team 2-0 to win the cadet World Cup for the fifth time.

    In a statement issued by his Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Femi Adesina, the President applauded the exemplary zeal, determination, commitment, hard work, patriotism and soccer artistry displayed by the Eaglets throughout the tournament.

    He noted with delight that the Golden Eaglets did not only won the coveted World Cup, but they are also bringing home the highly-valued individual awards such as the Golden Boot won by Victor Osimhen for being the tournament’s highest goal scorer and the Golden Ball, won by the team captain, Kelechi Nwakali for being the best player.

    President Buhari believed that by the triumph in Chile, the Golden Eaglets had shown the world that the indomitable Nigerian spirit is alive and waxing stronger.

    According to him, the team’s latest victory on the global stage is an affirmation of the significant progress Nigeria is now making towards positively redefining and rediscovering its potential for greatness in the comity of nations.

    He joined other proud Nigerians in awaiting the Golden Eaglets’ heroic return to the country.

     

  • Amuneke hails Eaglets’ World Cup triumph

    Amuneke hails Eaglets’ World Cup triumph

    Golden Eaglets coach, Emmanuel Amuneke, has praised his players for lifting the FIFA U- 17 World Cup on Monday morning after beating Mali 2 – 0 in the showpiece game.

    Goals from Golden Boot winner, Victor Osimhen and Aspire Academy starlet, Funsho Bamgboye, secured a deserved victory over the African champions, allnigeriasoccer.com reports.

    “It was a beautiful and entertaining match. I think the people in the stadium enjoyed it today. We knew the Malians are technically very strong, have great individual players and are very fast, ”allnigeriasoccer.com quoted Amuneke as saying to fifa.com.

    “We wanted to bring the players to their dreams and we did it. Thanks for the support. We feel like we are at home. ”

    The ex- Barcelona winger added: “We have worked very hard for this success and we hope to continue. The players will go home now but their journey is not over yet. Personally I’m really happy.

    “I have football in my blood, as a player and as a coach. This is what I want to pass to my players.”

    This is the first time Nigeria has successfully defended the FIFA U-17 World Cup in four previous attempts.

  • Pinnick tips Eaglets to retain World Cup

    Pinnick tips Eaglets to retain World Cup

    The Nigeria Football Federation president, Amaju Pinnick, has backed the Golden Eaglets to successfully defend the FIFA U-17 World Cup against African champions Mali on Sunday.

    Pinnick was in the stands as the Eaglets defeated hard–fighting Mexico 4-2 in Concepcion to reach the final of the tournament in Chile, africanFootball.com reports.

    Pinnick barely had time to catch his breath from a long trip that took him from London to Buenos Aires and Santiago before arriving in Concepcion.

    But he was in time to meet the players at the Diego de Almagro Hotels before they set out to the Estadio Municipal Ester Roa.

    “These boys have done Nigeria proud. They will go up against Mali on Sunday with great confidence and discipline, and emerge victorious,” he stated.

    “I’m very excited, not only with the result, but the way the boys came fighting back after that early goal by Mexico. I keep saying that we have the potential to be world champions in several areas of endeavour.”

     

  • Bosso tips Eaglets for U-17 World Cup final

    Bosso tips Eaglets for U-17 World Cup final

    Ex-Flying Eagles coach, Ladan Bosso, has tipped the Golden Eaglets to defeat Mexico and secure a place in the final of the 2015 FIFA U-17 World Cup in Chile.

    Eaglets defeated three-time champions Brazil 3-0 to reach this stage, while El Tri beat Ecuador 2-0 in Coquimbo, Goal reports.

    Bosso said the players were splendid in their two games and are hot favorites to book a final ticket.

    However, he warned the boys to maintain tactical discipline for the remaining part of the competition if they hope to defend the title.

    “I want to assure you that the Eaglets will beat Mexico and also win the U-17 World Cup again. The boys have played with so much enthusiasm and discipline and if they maintain same till the end of the competition, it will be hard for any of the remaining teams to beat them,” Bosso told Goal.

    “I also want to hail the impact of the highest scorer, Victor Osimhen. He has been remarkable in Chile and I tip him to lead Nigeria to the title.”

     

  • Mexico plot to stop Osimhen

    Mexico plot to stop Osimhen

    Mexico U-17 team coach, Mario Arteaga, has revealed his team will stop the rampaging Nigeria attack led by Victor Osimhen when both teams clash in Thursday’s FIFA U-17 World Cup semi final in Chile.

    Osimhen has been the most lethal striker at Chile 2015 scoring eight of the 14 goals recorded by the Golden Eaglets enroute the semi final, africanFootball.com reports.

    “Nigeria is a very good team and we will prepare ourselves better to face the Eaglets’ excellent attack,” africanFootball.com quoted the coach as saying after his team quarter final victory over Ecuador.

    Arteaga said his players acquitted themselves very well against the South Americans.

    “The match went as we expected, very tight between two teams with the same level. But my team managed to stay very calm and very well composed this game with impeccable behaviour,” he stated.

    “My players were good tactically, physically and mentally.”

  • Victory over Brazil boosted our cup hopes – Amuneke

    Victory over Brazil boosted our cup hopes – Amuneke

    Golden Eaglets coach, Emmanuel Amuneke, has described Sunday’s 3-0 win over Brazil in the quarterfinal of the FIFA U-17 World Cup in Chile as massive boost to the team title aspirations.

    Amuneke said the team played well and deserve to beat favourites Brazil.

    “Is not like we scored three goals and that was it. Before that, our side had 15 very good minutes, when the boys moved the ball around as we knew they could,”africanFootball.com quoted the former Barcelona star as saying after the match.

    “You have to give credit to my kids, who were tranquil and kept their cool to deal with the Brazil pressure and then scored at the right time.

    “For the players, beating Brazil is a big confidence boost. We still have a long way to the title, though.”

    Brazil coach, Carlos Amadeu, on the other hand, said his team lost to Nigeria because his players failed to put away their chances.

    He said the Nigerians utilised their chances and that was the difference.

    “We knew it was important for us to make the most of our opportunities, especially if we dominated the game at some point, but we didn’t,” he lamented.

  • 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.

  • Mali determined to reach U-17 World Cup semi finals

    Mali will face Croatia in Sunday’s quarter final of the ongoing U-17 World Cup in Chile, hoping to reach the last four for the first time.

    Already quarterfinalists in Egypt in 1997 and in Trinidad and Tobago in 2001, the West Africans have never reached the tournament’s semi finals.

    Unbeaten since the beginning of the competition, Coach Baye Ba’s boys finished top of Group D before defeating Korea DPR 3-0 in the round of 16, courtesy of an early opener from Amadou Haidara and a Sidiki Maiga’s brace, africanFootball.com reports.

    And the West Africans show no lack of ambition ahead of their clash with Croatia.

    “Our individual skills brought us the victory. We are happy that we are now in the next round,” africanFootball.com quoted Ba as saying after the win over North Korea.

    “The team is here to win the title but we will do it step by step.

    “I never watched a game of Croatia but I’m looking forward to analyze the team’s match against Germany.”

    Meanwhile, the Croatians secured a 2-0 victory against Germany in the previous round after sealing a second-place finish in Group A behind Nigeria.