Eaglets are World Champions again!
Golden Eaglets celebrating their 4th FIFA U-17 title yesterday after 3-0 victory over Mexico in Abu Dhabi, UAE.
Nigeria’s Golden Eaglets were truly golden yesterday as they thrashed defending Champions Mexico 3-0 to win a fourth FIFA U-17 World Cup in Abu Dhabi, in the United Arab Emirates.
With yesterday’s victory, Nigeria is now the first and only country to have won the trophy a record four times, having won it first in 1985 in China, 1993 in Japan and 2007 in South Korea.
In addition to the prestigious trophy, Nigeria also won the Fair Play Award, the Best Goalkeeper of the Tournament (Dele Alampasu), just as playmaker Kelechi Iheanacho won both the Most Valuable Player Award and the silver boot by virtue of his six goals in the championship.
Furthermore the Golden Eaglets set a new record of scoring the highest number of goals at FIFA U-17 World Cup with 27 goals in seven matches.
Nigeria took the lead early in the match when Mexico’s Eric Agguire under pressure from Yahaya Musa scored an own goal to set the Nigerians on course to winning their fourth title.
The Mexicans almost drew level in the 31st minute when Alampasu in goal for Nigeria had to lift high enough to push over Jamie’s header from close range.
After several failed attempts in the second half, Nigeria’s talisman Iheanacho made it two for Nigeria when he connected a rebound from Captain Musa Mohammed’s fierce shot at goal in the 56th minute.
Muhammed then took the game beyond the defending champions in the 81st minute when he curled a free-kick into the net for Nigeria’s third goal of the night.
Meanwhile, Nigerians have continued to send messages of congratulations to the victorious Golden Eaglets for doing the country proud.
Speaking to Weekly Trust immediately after the match, former Nigerian international Tijani Babangida said this is the best national U-17 team that Nigeria has produced.
“This is the best Eaglets that Nigeria has produced. The boys are simply marvellous. They kept improving from the first match that they played.
“They showed positive attitude and enormous confidence which has been instilled in them by their coaches. I just hope they will keep their head and progress in their career. My advice to them is to be aware of bad agents. Champions don’t go for screening so no agent should mislead them”.
Another former international, Mutiu Adepoju also congratulated the Golden Eaglets and urged them to enjoy the sweet victory.
“This is sweet victory and I urge the boys to enjoy it as much as they can. They spent so many months camping and now that they have made it, they should enjoy the moment”.
A member of the 1996 Olympic gold winning team, Garba Lawal said the unity in the team made the victory possible.
Lawal maintained that continuity is key to future success so the players should be monitored and guided by the appropriate authorities so that they don’t end up in the hands of bad agents.
“Unity in the team made the victory possible. Right from day one, I saw unity and patriotism in the players. They improved match after match and when they emerged champions, I was not surprised”, he said.
In addition to the prestigious trophy, Nigeria also won the Fair Play Award, the Best Goalkeeper of the Tournament (Dele Alampasu), just as playmaker Kelechi Iheanacho won both the Most Valuable Player Award and the silver boot by virtue of his six goals in the championship.
Furthermore the Golden Eaglets set a new record of scoring the highest number of goals at FIFA U-17 World Cup with 27 goals in seven matches.
Nigeria took the lead early in the match when Mexico’s Eric Agguire under pressure from Yahaya Musa scored an own goal to set the Nigerians on course to winning their fourth title.
The Mexicans almost drew level in the 31st minute when Alampasu in goal for Nigeria had to lift high enough to push over Jamie’s header from close range.
After several failed attempts in the second half, Nigeria’s talisman Iheanacho made it two for Nigeria when he connected a rebound from Captain Musa Mohammed’s fierce shot at goal in the 56th minute.
Muhammed then took the game beyond the defending champions in the 81st minute when he curled a free-kick into the net for Nigeria’s third goal of the night.
Meanwhile, Nigerians have continued to send messages of congratulations to the victorious Golden Eaglets for doing the country proud.
Speaking to Weekly Trust immediately after the match, former Nigerian international Tijani Babangida said this is the best national U-17 team that Nigeria has produced.
“This is the best Eaglets that Nigeria has produced. The boys are simply marvellous. They kept improving from the first match that they played.
“They showed positive attitude and enormous confidence which has been instilled in them by their coaches. I just hope they will keep their head and progress in their career. My advice to them is to be aware of bad agents. Champions don’t go for screening so no agent should mislead them”.
Another former international, Mutiu Adepoju also congratulated the Golden Eaglets and urged them to enjoy the sweet victory.
“This is sweet victory and I urge the boys to enjoy it as much as they can. They spent so many months camping and now that they have made it, they should enjoy the moment”.
A member of the 1996 Olympic gold winning team, Garba Lawal said the unity in the team made the victory possible.
Lawal maintained that continuity is key to future success so the players should be monitored and guided by the appropriate authorities so that they don’t end up in the hands of bad agents.
“Unity in the team made the victory possible. Right from day one, I saw unity and patriotism in the players. They improved match after match and when they emerged champions, I was not surprised”, he said.
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