The Nation Newspaper

Tag: U-17

  • Nigeria to Open Camp for FIFA U-17 World Cup Qualifiers

    Nigeria to Open Camp for FIFA U-17 World Cup Qualifiers

    Nigeria’s cadet women’s football team,will open camp next week in preparations for next month’s FIFA U17 Women’s World Cup qualifying match against Ethiopia.

    Head Coach of the U17 women national team, Flamingoes, Bala Nikyu has said.

    “Nikyu and his assistants will open the team camp early next week. They know what is at stake and will give their best to raise a team that will do Nigeria proud not only in the qualifiers but the global championship proper,” Chairman of the NFF Technical and Development Committee, Yusuf Ahmed Fresh, told thenff.com.

    Nikyu’s assistants include former Nigerian international Toyin Ayinla who is the First Assistant Coach; Ajuma Peter Otache who is the Second Assistant Coach and; Christian Obi who is the Goalkeepers’ Trainer.

    Nigeria will take on the Ethiopians in the first round of the African qualifying series of the sixth edition of the global competition, which debuted in New Zealand in 2008. The 2018 finals will be held in Uruguay.

  • U-17: Eaglets beat Mexico 4-2, set to meet Mali in final

    U-17: Eaglets beat Mexico 4-2, set to meet Mali in final

    With a 4-2 victory over Mexico, Nigeria’ Golden Eaglets are through to the finals of the on-going FIFA U-17 world championship in Chile.

    From one goal down, the Golden Eaglets won the epic semi-final match and will now face Mali in an all-African final in Vina Del Mar on Sunday.

    Mexico will play Belgium in the match for third place earlier the same day.

  • …As U-17 team gets warm welcome in Cairo

    The Golden Eaglets were warmly received  Wednesday night as the Nigeria’s national Under-17 team landed at the Cairo Airport aboard EGYPTAIR from Abuja.

    The contingent of 25 players and nine officials led by Ahmad Muazu Kawu, a board member of the Nigeria Football Federation and Chairman of the Nigeria Nationwide League, finally arrived the ‘land of history’ at 7:20pm local time (8:20pm Nigerian time) and were met on arrival by officials of the Egyptian Football Association (EFA) led Mr. Nadar Darwish of the Players’ Affairs Department.

    Expectedly, Golden Eaglets’ Head Coach, Emmanuel Amuneke was an instant hit with the Cairo fans following his successful stint at Egypt’s top side, Zamalek FC in the 1990s.

    “Emmanuel! Emmanuel!!” shouted well-set security personnel who quickly offered a warm handshake. “It is great to see you again.”

    Another excited Zamalek fan actually came in tow with his family to welcome Amuneke’s Eaglets saying, he was so happy to meet the 1994 African Footballer of the Year again.

    “I hope this is Emmanuel, “said the enthusiastic guy who brought along his son for a photo shot. ” I’m a great Zamalek fan and we cannot forget what Emmanuel did when he played for us and I want to wish you well.”

    Similarly, Hassan El Shafey, a staunch Al Ahly fan and General Manager at Sheraton Dreamland Hotel and Conference Centre , was equally elated on seeing Amuneke during  lunch time  on Thursday: “You were wicked to us when you were are playing for Zamalek but we love you dearly because you were such  a great player; Emmanuel is half Egyptian!”

  • Return to work, stakeholders urge U-17 team

    Return to work, stakeholders urge U-17 team

    Some soccer stakeholders on Sunday warned the Golden Eaglets not to dwell on the 6-1 walloping of Mexico in the U-17 World Cup match.

    They urged the Eaglets to get back to work ahead of other Group F matches at the tournament being hosted by the United Arab Emirates (UAE).

    The stakeholders also told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in separate interviews that even though the victory was massive, the Eaglets must not relent against other opponents.

    Kelechi Iheanacho, the Eaglets’ skipper, scored four of the 6-1 goals in the opening match of group F in Al Adin, UAE.

    Christian Chukwu, a former Super Eagles Coach, said he was impressed by the 6-1 display, noting that it was a good way to begin the campaign.

    “They have started well. I hope they can keep it up. The momentum is high and so, only the best is expected from the team. I know they will perform well,’’ he said.

    Bright Omokaro, an ex-Super Eagles defender, described the performance of the Eaglets as `brilliant,’ saying:

    “The team was brilliant; I must commend the captain for stepping up his game. For the coach, he knows what we expect from him and he has started well.

    “ We must not be too quick to rejoice, there is still more work ahead but for now I’m happy with the outcome.’’

    Mutiu Adepoju, an ex-international, said it was a massive win for the team, adding that it indicated the potentials of the team.

    “It is a good win, we have always known the team to score goals and win matches. But this time, we expect more from them, we expect the trophy.

    “I have confidence in them and they should treat every match as important,’’ he added.

    Nnenna Etim, a former Falcons coach, stressed the need for the team not to dwell on the victory.

    She advised the team to get back to work ahead of the coming games.

    “I’m happy at the victory, but they should not dwell on it, there is still need to put 100 per cent effort in the upcoming games.

    “They should not think about this victory, it is a good one, but they should forge ahead and take other matches seriously,’’ she said.

    The Eaglets will face Sweden on Tuesday in Dubai.

  • F/Eagles get favourable AYC draw

    F/Eagles get favourable AYC draw

    …  Eaglets to meet Ghana in U-17 

    The Flying Eagles of Nigeria on Sunday got a favourable draw for the 2013 African Youth Championship slated for Algeria, MTNFootball.com reports.

    Flying Eagles, the defending champions, will play in group B alongside Mali, debutants Gabon and DR Congo.

    Group A comprises the hosts Algeria, Ghana, Egypt and Benin Republic.

    The U-20 tournament will be played between March 16 and 30 2013 with the semi-finalists qualifying to represent Africa at the FIFA U-20 World Cup in Turkey in June.

    For the U-17 African championship, which will be hosted by Morocco in April, three-time world champions Golden Eaglets of Nigeria will meet arch rivals Black Starlets of Ghana, Cote d’Ivoire and Congo.

    The other group has hosts Morocco, debutants Botswana, Gabon and Tunisia.

    Like the AYC, the semi-finalists of this competition will also fly Africa’s flag at the FIFA U-17 World Cup in United Arab Emirates.

     

  • CAN U-17 QUALIFIER Obuh warns Eaglets coaches on Mali threat

    CAN U-17 QUALIFIER Obuh warns Eaglets coaches on Mali threat

    NIGERIA’S Under-20 coach John Obuh has warned his U-17 colleague Manu Garba not to underrate their Malian opponents when they clash in today’s Africa Junior Championship final round qualifier saying the game will be the team’s real test in their quest for the ticket to Morocco 2013.

    The Golden Eaglets have been receiving lots of commendations for their performance so far in the qualifier and Obuh said the coach must ensured that the team is not carried away by their achievement so far.

    “They really have to be at their best; they have to work for it (getting a win). They should not be overconfidence and they should not also try to play to what people expect.

    “He (coach) should approach the tactics that he knows will work out for the team because if he tries to please the people and anything goes wrong, he will be the one to blame, ” said Obuh who led the team to the final of the 2009 FIFA U-17 World Cup on home soil.

    The team posted a 10-1 win over Niger in their .while they also recorded a 7-0 win over Guinea in their last match to set up today’s encounter with their fellow West Africans.

  • CAN U-17 QUALIFIER EAGLETS TACKLE JUNIOR SYLI STARS TODAY

    CAN U-17 QUALIFIER EAGLETS TACKLE JUNIOR SYLI STARS TODAY

    •Manu dismisses Guinea fears

    •Kick-off 2pm

     

    GUINEA’S Junior Syli Stars would certainly meet their waterloo today when they meet the Golden Eaglets of Nigeria at the U.J Esuene Sports Stadium in Calabar.

    The match which expectedly would kick off at 2:00 pm Nigerian time is a second round-first leg game in the 2003 African Under-17 qualifier towards participating at the forthcoming African Youth Championship to be hosted by Morocco.

    Speaking ahead of the game during a media session at the University of Calabar’s Abraham Ordia Sports Stadium, the Golden Eaglets’ Head coach, Manu Garba (MFR) said he is confident that his team would win. “Pressure? What pressure?”Garba said rhetorically.”I don’t know anything about pressure despite the fact that we know little about the Guinean team.” Unlike the Golden Eaglets,this is Guinea’s fist game in the 2013 Under-17 qualifier after enjoying a bye into the second round.

    “I don’t agree with you that we are under any pressure simply because we beat Niger on a 10-1 aggregate in the first round rather, we are at an advantage to continue from where we stopped last time,“ Garba, a gifted midfielder in his heyday with El-Kanemi Warriors of Maiduguri, said.

    “We duly respect our opponents and even if we are playing Chad, we are going to respect them. We are ready for Guinea and we are going to force them to play to our rhythm because we have a good team.

    “Since we started this campaign, we have shown that we are a high scoring side and we are going to continue in that tradition against Guinea on Sunday.

    “We want to score as many goals as possible without conceding any at home so that the job would be easier when we go for the return leg match in Conakry,” he added.

  • U-17 Women World Cup Nigeria held by Canada

    U-17 Women World Cup Nigeria held by Canada

    NIGERIA and Canada played out a pulsating 1-1 draw in the Tofig Bahramov stadium, but the African side will feel they deserved all three points.

    Nigeria dominated the first-half and coach Peter Dedevbo would wondering how his side came in at the break without a goal to their name. Amandine Pierre-Louise’s one-on-one with Gift Andy was all that broke the early pressure.

    However, the Nigerian onslaught continued as they hit the woodwork three times before the break. Chinwendu Ihezuo rattled the bar with a header after a short-corner routine, before Jiroro Ideke’s inswinging corner left Sheridan flapping as it cannoned off the car again.

    But Chidinma Edeji arguably had the best chance of the lot, arriving late onto a loose ball four yards out, hammering a shot onto the upright with Sheridan helpless. The trend continued after half-time, with Ihezuo hitting the post with another header, before Adeboyejo forced Sheridan into a full-length save.

    Then came the hammer blow. Substitute Nichelle Prince slipped in the lively Pierre-Louise, who charged into the area and fired ferociously past Andy.

    Nigeria looked stunned, and were less fruitful in the following minutes. However they regrouped and again looked the better side.

    The African side spurned further chances, but they eventually got the goal that didn’t look like coming. Adeboyejo’s cross from the left was blocked, but played in the reboundand Ihezuo’s volleys home the goal she richly deserved.

    They then pushed for a winner, but ultimately had to be content with a point.

  • FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup

    FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup

    World Football governing body (FIFA) has fixed Nigeria’s group opening match of the FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup against Canada billed for this weekend in Azerbiajian for 1pm.

    Azerbiajian is four hours ahead of Nigeria under the time zone meaning it will be aired in the Eastern European Country at 5pm.

    This was confirmed by the team’s Media Officer, Gracious Akujobi who also disclosed that the team’s official training will hold at the Tofig Bahramov Stadium in Baku.

    But the nature of the playing turf for Saturday’s match could not be confirmed by Akujobi

    “For now we do not know whether our game is going to be played on natural grass or on an artificial pitch until today’s training. Even our Laision Officer attached to the team also does not know,” she said.

    FIFA has fixed the usual pre-match formalities for 10.30am.

    Both Nigeria and Canada have never met at the age-grade level.

    Nigeria, quarter-finalist at the last edition in Trinidad and Tobago, is among the pre-tournament favourites going by their past records.

  • U-17s mourn with goalie over mum’s death

    Players and officials of the national Under-17 team are in deep mourning with Adeyinka Adewale who was in goal when Nigeria defeated Niger 4-1 at the weekend, following the demise of his mother.
    Madam Iyabo Sarah Adewale, who was in her late forties, passed away at her home in Ilorin, Kwara State last Wednesday after a brief illness. But the heart-breaking news was kept away until he was informed by Head coach, Manu Garba (MFR late Monday night.
    The late Madam Adeyinka has since been buried at her husband’s ancestral home in Modakeke in Osun State. Adeyinka remains in camp with the rest of the team as prayers were offered on his behalf during Tuesday’s training sessions.
    Adeyinka described the death of his mum as very painful and sad; revealing that he felt something was amiss with him on the eve of the Niger versus Nigeria match but this was misconstrued by teammates as part of the peculiar pre-match tension, adding that the death of his mum has left a big vacuum in his young life.
    “I knew something was wrong last Friday but I couldn’t really say what it was until I was told last night that my loveable mum died last Wednesday,” a crest-fallen Adeyinka said matter-of-factly. “My mum was my pillar.
    “She was a great mum who did so much for us and her memories will be with me forever. I’m pained that she was unable to see me play for Nigeria despite all what she did in my life but I can’t forget her,” he added.