Impressive Golden Eaglets Beat Fasbir Academy 4-1

Nigeria’s U-17 team, Golden Eaglets, rounded off their preparation towards Niger 2015 with an impressive 4-1 win against Fasbir Integrated Football Academy at the Giginya Memorial Stadium in Sokoto on Wednesday.

Golden Eaglets scored twice through Victor Osimhen and Suleiman Abdullahi via penalty in the first half with additional two goals by substitutes Christian Charles and Samuel Chukwueze while Fasbir’s was also a first half penalty goal by goalkeeper Yusuf Yusha’u who was adjudged the man-of-the match.

The match was watched by an enthusiastic crowd including Mallam Muhammed Nasiru Saidu, Chairman of Sokoto Football Association; Coach Siji Lagunju of the NFF amongst others. But the stadium did not come alive until the 20th minute when Suleiman Muhammed waltzed his way into the box and flicked the ball on the path of Victor Osimhen whose twice-taken shot was stopped by agile goalkeeper Yusha’u.

Six minutes later, Suleiman Abdullahi who wore the captain’s band broke free from the right flank but was brought down in his stride inside the box; Osimhen converted the resultant penalty kick to give the Golden Eaglets the lead.

But four minutes later, the Golden Eaglets conceded a penalty after the ball bounced off the hand of a defender following a corner kick and Goalkeeper Yusha’u stepped forward to fire the penalty behind Goalkeeper Amos Benjamin.

Eaglets took the lead towards the end of the first half courtesy of another penalty in the 44th after Osimhen was brought down with only the goalkeeper to beat and Suleiman smartly dispatched the ball behind Yusha’u yet again.

The Golden Eaglets virtually took control of the match on resumption of the second half following the introduction of Kelechi Nwakali, Samuel Chukwueze and Orji Okonkwo but Yusha’u foiled their attacking initiatives time and again. But with ten minutes to spare, the Golden Eaglets added two quick goals courtesy of Christian Charles at the end of a triangular pass involving Abdullahi and Ayodeji Bamidele in the 80th minutes. Two minutes later, Chukwueze slotted the last goal during a goalmouth melee.

The traditional pre match greetings by the two teams

Golden Eaglets Vs. Fasbir: A.Benjamin(A.Udoh 56)- A.Saddam(L.John); L. Halilu(A.Bamidele 77); C.Kanu;A.Usman;A. Ukoh(K.Nwakali); K.
Michael;S. Abdullahi; E.Osinachi(O.Okonwo 45); V. Osimhen(C.Charles
74); S.Muhammed(S.Chukwueze 45).

Amuneke salutes Sokoto fans, Fasbir Academy Golden Eaglets’ Head Coach, Emmanuel Amuneke was full of praise for the passionate Sokoto football fans as well as Fasbir Integrated Football Academy despite losing 4-1 to the Nigeria’s Under-17 team at the Giginya Memorial Stadium in Sokoto on Wednesday.

The former African Footballer of the Year said here that he was impressed with the large turnout of the fans at the match as well as the spirited play of the fledging academy owned by Mallam Muhammed Nasiru Saidu, the chairman of Sokoto Football Association and the Assistant Director, Legislative Budget at the National Assembly.

“First and foremost, we want to thank the people of Sokoto for their hospitality and support to us since the first day we arrived here,” Amuneke stated. “Our appreciations also go to the Sultan, the government and ordinary fans who are wishing us well as we travel to Niger for the African Under-17 championship.”

Speaking further, Amuneke said the youngsters from Fasbir have nothing to be ashamed because they put up a brave performance against the Niamey-bound Golden Eaglets.

Golden Eaglets line up against Gabon

“Personally, I’m taking some positives from this match since it allowed us to see how much we have adapted to the weather in Sokoto which is almost the same we are going to meet in Niamey,” he noted. “I must also commend Fasbir because this is about the best academy we have played; I don’t want to single out a particular player but collectively, I like them because this is what a model academy should be.”

Meanwhile, the Golden Eaglets made of 21 players and 10 officials would depart Sokoto for Niamey on Thursday to seek glory at the 11th African U-17 Championship slated to hold between February 15 and March 1.

Amuneke Hails Ace After Holding Eaglets

Golden Eaglets’ Head Coach, Emmanuel Amuneke, has thumbed-up Ace Football Academy of Kaduna after they forced his wards to a 1-1 draw on Saturday at the NFF/FIFA Goal Project in Abuja.

Christian Charles gave the Golden Eaglets a first half lead when he converted a penalty after Suleiman Muhammed’s goal-bound shot was handled in the box by Ace’s captain, Hassan; who later brought both
sides on equal terms in the second half as he nodded home a corner kick beyond Eaglets’ goalkeeper, Amos Benjamin.

Golden Eaglets

The Golden Eaglets actually started with a possible line up complete with many youngsters recruited from the national Under-15 team but it was there for all to see that some still need some catch up days leading to the team’s opening match against host (Niger) at the forthcoming Niger 2015.

“I intentionally started this match with many of our fringe players in order to see how they can collectively cope,” Amuneke said afterwards.” But Ace really gave us a good test and we can now judge some of these youngsters better.”

While Ace practically dominated the first stanza of the match but lost several opportunities, the Golden Eaglets were better towards the end of match following the introduction of their tried and tested legs.

“I think Ace was better than us especially in the first half but we are not discouraged about the performance of some of our players,” added Amuneke.”Now, we are gradually having a clearer picture of what our team would look like in Niger.”

Niger 2015, the 11the African U-17 Championship would be held in Niamey between February 15 and March 1st. The Golden Eaglets are drawn in Group A along with host, Niger; Guinea and Zambia. Nigeria and their northern neighbour, Niger, would play the championship’s opening fixture of February 15 at the Stade Général Seyni Kountché (SGSK) multi-purpose stadium.