Nigeria’s Golden Eaglets Through To Record 8th FIFA U17 World Cup Semi-Final

Nigeria’s Under 17 football team the Golden Eaglets yesterday qualified for the Semi-finals of the ongoing FIFA Under 17 World Cup Cup in Chile by walloping South America Giants Brazil 3-0.

The Emmanuel Amuneke tutored Lads did the business in the first half as they went on a 10 minute goal scoring spree.

The Brazilians were the first to create a chance but filed to score and they paid the ultimate price. Tournament Top Goal Scorer Victor Osimhen scored his first headed goal at the tournament to take his personally tally to 8 goals, Florent Sinama-Pongolle’s record of nine obviously seems to be threatened.

And hardly had the South Americans settle down before Nigeria’s Kingsley Michael and Udochukwu Anumudu put their names on the scorer’s sheet, that was all the African team needed to make it to the next stage of the tournament.

Nigeria has now made it to the Semi-finals a record 8th times winning the trophy four times.

The Battle between the Best defensive team (Brazil) and the best offensive team (Nigeria) lived up to its billing as it did produced sparks and all the thrills and frills a game of such magnitude should have.

A last gasp effort by the Brazilian lads to scored a consolation goal via a well struck free-kick was thwarted by Nigeria’s Goalkeeper Udoh who Produced a fine save to keep clean sheet.

The Nigerians have been joined in the final four by fellow Africans Mali who conquered Croatia the only team to have defeated the Nigerian in Chile. The Malians won a by a lone goal from Sekou Koita via an Assist from Sidiki Maiga and already there is talk of an all-African affair in the finals if both sides can overcome their Semi-finals opponents.

Eaglets Land In Buenos Aires, Begin Training

World champions, Golden Eaglets of Nigeria on Friday arrived their pre-World Cup training camp in Buenos Aires, Argentina.

A contingent of 25 players and 10 officials including NFF’s Assistant Director (Technical) Siji Lagunju, had earlier departed from Abuja on Thursday. They later left Dubai (the city where Golden Eaglets’ class of 2013 had their training camp before winning a historic fourth title for Nigeria in the same country) in the early hours of Friday for Rio de Janeiro (Brazil) en route to Buenos Aires.

On ground in Buenos Aires to receive the team were officials of Nigeria Embassy led by Mr. Elekwachi Ndubuisi and Mrs. Felicia Ezeorah as well as NFF FIFA Match Agent, Jairo Pachon, who informed that all arrangements had been put in place for the team’s smooth preparation ahead of the World Cup to be held between October 17 and November 8 in Chile.

Pachon told thenff.com that the Golden Eaglets would engage Argentina’s U-17 team in a friendly match on October 6 and would on October 11 feature against the U-20 team of either Racing FC or Boca Juniors before departing for Santiago.

Golden Eaglets Coach Emmanuel Amuneke

Golden Eaglets’ Head Coach Emmanuel Amuneke had on Thursday before departure announced a strong squad of 25 players for the trip, including team captain Kelechi Nwakali along with nine others who were in the squad that secured the team’s ticket for the World Cup at the last Africa U-17 Nations Cup in Niger.

FULL LIST: Kelechi Nwakali; Victor Osimhen, Samuel Chukwueze, Ebere Osinachi, Kingsley Michael, Orji Okonkwo, John Lazarus, Halilu Lukman, Udoh Akpan, Benjamin Amos, Taiwo Alimi, Chinedu Madueke, Ibe Tobechukwu, Ejike Ikwu, Tochukwu Okoli, Udochukwu Anumudu, Chiaha Chisom, Funsho Bamgboye, Yunusa Abdullahi, Agor Chukwudi, David Enogela, Michael Edidiong, Samuel Opeh, Joel Osikel, Gavi Thompson.

Golden Eaglets Arrive Argentina

Meanwhile, the Eaglets have begun training at the Buenos Aires Futbol ground. BAF, as its simply known is a facility privately owned by former Argentine international, Matias Almeyda and it’s tucked away at San Roque in Tigre on the outskirts of the capital city of Argentina.

According to Eaglets’ Head Coach, Emmanuel Amuneke, the facility in BAF is similar to what was obtainable at the Papendal Sports Centre in Holland that was used by the Super Eagles in the 1990s during the era of Dutch coach, Clemens Westerhof. Though not as gigantic as Papendal in Arnhem, BAF has about seven training pitches with state of the art gymnasium, swimming pool and other adjunct facilities good for camping.

“This facility is good since it is out of town and would allow for maximum concentration throughout our camping here ahead of the World Cup,” Amuneke admitted.

The former Nigerian international, after offering prayers to God at saturday’s morning training, further told the players that they should think about nothing other than football and the World Cup. The Eaglets are expected to train twice daily with slight variation when there is a friendly match.

Meanwhile, the weather condition in Buenos Aires is chilly with temperature oscillating between 8 and 15 degree centigrade – same weather in Chile with most South American countries nearing the winter season.

Golden Eaglets shoot down Egypt 4-2

Both teams exchage greetings before the match

National Under-17 team, Golden Eaglets on Sunday night handed a 4-2 defeat to their Egyptian counterparts in an International friendly match played at the Police Sports Stadium in Cairo.

In the match that kicked off 10:15pm local time (9:15pm Nigerian time), bean-pole striker, Victor Osimhen got a first half brace while Samuel Chukwueze and Kingsley Michael scored in the second half.

Both teams settled down quickly after referee Abdel Mohammed signalled the start of the match with the two captains Kelechi Nwakali (Nigeria) and Ahmed Hussein much in the thick of the action.

But in the 13th minute, Osimhen put the Golden Eaglets in the lead when he jabbed into the net an inch-perfect cross from Samuel Chukwueze. Osimhen followed it with another goal three minutes later when he headed straight into the net a pullout from Kingsley Michael.

Egypt pulled a goal back within a minute to spare of the first half when Walid Attya latched onto the end of a triangular pass orchestrated by Hamdy and Hosam Adel before dispatching the ball behind Eaglets’ goalkeeper Akpan Udoh.

It was the Egyptians who were back in the hunt at the restart when Karim Yehia got a pass from Ahmed Hamdy before burying the ball behind Udoh in the 52th minute.

Eaglets responded fast after the set back with some good positional play and Chukwueze added his name to the score sheet in the 58th minute when he drove a volley into the net off a pass from tireless
Usman Abass.

Michael added another goal in the 70th minute after goalkeeper Mamoud Gad fumbled with a long range shot from Osimhen who undoubtedly was the man of the match.

Golden Eaglets bench – Emmanuel Amuneke, Kabiru Baleria, Emeka Amadi

It was a game both teams used to test their fringe players towards the end but the match had already been won and lost as the Golden Eaglets got huge praise from the excited spectators.

Meanwhile, the Golden Eaglets that departed Cairo for Abuja aboard EGYPTAIR on Monday would return to Calabar on Tuesday to continue preparation ahead of their first leg, second round CAN Under-17 Championship fixture against Democratic Republic of Congo on July 20.

Eaglets vs. Egypt -July 6, 2014
A.Udoh- L.John, A.Usman(D. Uzama), N. Kelechi(H. Okebugwu), A. Bamidele, H, Zakari(U I. Jack (E. Agenor), K,Orji, V. Osimhen(E. Osinachi), O. Promise(K.Ayinde), S. Chukwueze

Golden Starting Eleven against Egypt in Cairo.

Four-star Eaglets down Dreamland

Golden Eaglets

Golden Eaglets yet again pulled a star performance to beat Dreamland Academy of Abia State 4-0 at the Abraham Ordia Stadium located within the University of Calabar on Friday.

The match was earlier abandoned in the morning due to poor condition of the pitch following a torrential rain after Dreamland had taken a 1-0 lead but both parties agreed to a fresh start in the evening.

Petit striker, Kehinde Ayinde along with, Ebere Osinachi, Promise Orji and Suleiman Abdullahi secured Golden Eaglets’ 12th successive win in test matches much to the admiration of the technical crew.

“The abandoned game in the morning actually gave us an idea of how best to handle Dreamland as the boys knew they are a very strong side,” noted Coach Emmanuel Amuneke.

Emanuel Amuneke

“Though there was rain again this evening, it was a good performance from both sides and I’m impressed with the fact that our boys took their chances.”

It was the Dreamland that came out smoking from the blast of the whistle during the replay as they mounted ceaseless pressure on the Golden Eaglets but could not gain the advantage despite four corner kicks.

But Eaglets’ Ayinde celebrated his first goal in the 20th minute since his last in the Bronze medal-winning match against Togo at the WAFU B Tournament on April 27th after collecting a pass from Jack Ipalibo.

The Eaglets asserted themselves thereafter with the duo of Kelechi Nwakali and Kingsley Michael showing a telepathic understanding in the midfield as they fed the attackers with incisive passes.

Striker Samuel Chukwueze intercepted a pass in the 40 minutes and immediately gave it to Ayinde whose well-driven shot was deflected by the agile Dreamland’s keeper to end the first half 1-0.

Promise Orji signalled his second-half inclusion when he ran past three defenders and squared the ball for Osinachi to score the second goal in the 65th minute. It was another substitute Abbas who provided the cross for Orji to nod home the third goal towards the end while Abdullahi added a breathtaking goal at the end of a triangular passes from Nwakali; Michael and Osinachi.

Golden Eaglets pummel Pepsi 9-0

The Golden Eaglets virtually saved the best for their last test match ahead of the WAFU B Tournament with a 9-0 drubbing of Pepsi Football Academy (KFA) at the Agege Stadium in Lagos on Tuesday.

This was Eaglets’ best performance so far since Emmanuel Amuneke took over the reins of the team and the lads responded with aplomb against well-organised PFA boys in front of their shocked fans.

Though still a work in progress, the Golden Eaglets virtually dominated their opponents with good movement and positional play
through out what was clearly a one-sided affair.

‘Baby-faced’ Orji Okonkwo grabbed a first half hat trick while petit Kehinde Ayinde also grabbed a brace in the first half and Kelechi
Nwakali added his name to the list as the Eaglets ended the first stanza 6-0.

Coach Amuneke adjusted his line up in the second half but the Golden Eaglets continued with their orchestrated play and were rewarded with three more goals courtesy of Dauda Abdulganiyu and another brace by stylish Kingsley Michael.

With five wins in as many matches starting with a 6-0 battering of the Super Falcons penultimate week, Amuneke said he was hopeful his lads would turn on the show in Togo in the six-nation tournament starting this weekend in Lome.

“Though we are not there yet but we are impressed with the performance of the players against Pepsi today,” said Amuneke who
scored some trophy-winning goals for the country in his heydays.

“The attack was sharp and forceful; and I really want to commend the players for being able to reproduce some of the things they have been learning in training. Overall, it was a good performance despite the fact that we lost some composure towards the end of the match.”

The former African Footballer of the Year noted that the team is at the ready for the tournament in Togo, adding that it is imperative to
keep the boys focussed about the challenges ahead. He said: “If we can continue to work collectively as we have done
today, we can pull surprises in Togo and by the grace of God, we are going to make a good impression.”

Golden Eaglets thrash Super Falcons 6-0

Golden Eaglets handed out a 6-0 defeat to the Super Falcons in an early morning game at the NFF/FIFA Goal Project Pitch on Friday.
The match was an opportunity for the Golden Eaglets’ coaching crew to watch their new recruits under match situation and they responded well despite having a week following their screening exercise.

The lads would soon take the initiative after the Super Falcons had taken the kick off. Chidera Ejuke grabbed the curtain raiser in the
6th minute with a tap in off a pass from Kehinde Ayinde.

He was back 10 minutes later when he rode through the Falcons’ defence for his second goal of the day to end the first half 2-0 in favour of the budding Eaglets.

Coach Emmanuel Amuneke brought in some fresh faces in the second half leaving behind Henry Daniel, Kingsley Michael, Joshua Auta and Dauda Abdul-Ganiyu.

Henry would turn to Falcons’ tormentor as he broke freely from the right flank. Six minutes after the restart, he fed new comer, Paul Obasi to score Eaglets’ third goal. It was Henry again that provided Michael with the pull out to slot the ball behind the Falcons’ net for
the fourth goal in the 41st minute.

He would later cap his fine performance barely a minute later when he guided the ball into the net after collecting a through ball from Orji Okoronkwo But it was Okoronkwo who scored the final goal of the match when he got a through pass from Henry yet again.

Speaking after the 60-minute duel, Amuneke said the lads have substance to build upon in the days ahead, insisting that nobody has
been guaranteed a place in the team yet.

“We are impressed not because of the number of the goals we scored but because the boys have started showing what they have been learning in the last few day,” said the former African Footballer of the Year.

“The level of their performance is encouraging and it is our duty to demand more from them but there is substance to build upon from these boys.”