Shehu Dikko Sponsors 7th Veterans Cup

Shehu Dikko will sponsor the 7th Veterans Cup for the country’s top former internationals in Kaduna from Thursday.

A total prize money of a million Naira will be up for grabs when former internationals like Garba Lawal, Henry Nwosu, Taju Disu, Friday Elahor, Friday Ekpo, Taiwo Oloyede, Patrick Pascal and Edema Fuludu lace their boots again and try to roll back their glory days on the pitch.

All the expenses of the teams will also be borne by the sponsor.

A total of eight All-Star teams will feature in the tournament, which will be staged at the Ahmadu Bello Stadium in Kaduna and end on Saturday.

They are defending champions Bauchi, hosts Kaduna, Lagos, Edo, Imo, Abuja, Kano and Gombe.

The teams are drawn into two groups with matches to be played on a league basis and the top two from each group to qualify for the knockout stage of the competition.

SHEHU DIKKO

“We wish to use this tournament to reunite our past heroes and also find other ways of giving them hope and empowering them,” said Shehu Dikko.

The draw and gala dinner will take place on Wednesday with another dinner on Saturday night.

Lagos State Governor Babatunde Raji Fashola bankrolled the first three Veterans Cup, while the fourth and fifth editions in Abuja were co-sponsored by Shehu Dikko.

The sixth tournament was sponsored by the Kano State Government last year.

WAFU B TOURNAMENT ! Benin stop Golden Eaglets via 3-1 penalty

The Golden Eaglets failed to book their ticket for the Final Match of the WAFU B Tournament on Friday following a 3-1 penalty shoot-out loss to Republic of Benin-after both neighbours had played out a pulsating 1-1 draw.

Golden Eaglets’ second-half substitute, Suleiman Abdullahi cancelled Benin’s Adaomu Nassiru early minute lead and a winner did not emerge in regulation and extra time Golden Eaglets started the game without injured midfielder Kingsley Michael who was replaced by Dayo Femi.

But as early as the second minute, Femi was punished for ball-watching when fleet-footed Nassiru ghosted past him to score the opening goal of the match. Few minutes later, it was the turn of the Eaglets on the other end when Joshua Auta nearly grabbed the equaliser but his shot was cuddled by the Benin’s goalkeeper.

The Nigerians were undeterred despite good possession of the ball by the Beninois and about a quarter of an hour, Orji Okonkwo latched on to a through pass from Kehinde Ayinde.

The languid striker out-paced two defenders and shot straight into the net but his joy of grabbing an equalizer was short-lived by Nigerien referee, Lalidia Souleymane who ruled otherwise.

Jack Ipalibo also went close in the 37th minute when he drove through the pack but saw his pile driver missing the target. Towards the end of the first half, it was the Nigerians who were on the receiving end and were twice saved by the bar in the 42nd and 4th minute.

In the second half, Coach Emmanuel Amuneke brought in Suleiman Abdullahi for Dayo and his inclusion brought some order to the
Nigerian midfield. The Golden Eaglets’ skipper, Kelechi Nwakali was hacked down in the box in the 63rd minute but referee Souleymane did not call for any infringement. But Abdullahi finally got the equalizer for the Eaglets in the 68th minute when he scrambled the ball into the net off a corner kick.

The match could not produce a winner even after 30 minutes of extra-time and the Beninois triumphed in the ensuing penalty shootout; the Golden Eaglets would now face the loser of the second semi-fina match between Mali and hosts, Togo on Sunday.

In attendance at the match were Nigeria’s High Commissioner to Togo, Ambassador Mathew Sunday Adoli and his counterpart in Benin, Lawrence Olufemi Obisakin and his wife; Alhaji Yussuf Fresh, a board member of the NFF and Leader of Delegation to Togo; Mr. Patrick Pascal (special assistant to NFF’s President, Alhaji Aminu Maigari) amongst others.

Nwakali to captain Eaglets in Togo

Golden Eaglets’ coach Emmanuel Amuneke has picked Kelechi Nwakali to captain his fledging team at the WAFU B Under-17 Tournament in Togo. Kelechi is the younger brother of Chidiebere Nwakali, the Manchester City’s youngster who played a pivotal role when Nigeria won a record fourth title at the 2013 FIFA Under-17 World Cup in the United Arab Emirates.

Amuneke said he settled for Kelechi because the attacking midfielder has demonstrated overtime the capacity to lead others. The lad nearly gate crashed into the 2013 World Cup-winning team but for an unfortunate injury on the eve of departure to Abu-Dhabi.

” Kelechi has shown that he’s about the most experienced about the demands of playing for the national team amongst the players we have at present ,” noted Prince Udofia, the Golden Eaglets’ vastly experienced coordinator.

So far, Kelechi has shown some sterling qualities not least on the pitch where he roams in the midfield like a gazelle. He has been among the goals for the team and his cracking long-range goal in the 2-1 win against College of Football, Abuja is rated as one of the team’s best effort so far.

Meanwhile, the Golden Eaglets departed Lagos for Lome Thursday with Alhaji Yussuf Fresh, a board member of the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) as the leader of delegation. In the continent also is Mr.

Patrick Pascal, former Nigerian international who is a special assistant to NFF’s President Alhaji Aminu Maigari on technical
matters.

Fresh said that the tournament in Togo offers the players the opportunity to show what they can do at a competitive level after a
remarkable five wins in as many trial matches before their departure to the neighbouring West African country.

The Golden Eaglets drawn against Mali and Niger in Group B at the six-nation tournament; and will open their account against Mali 5:30 pm on Saturday at the Municipal Stadium.

Eaglets arrive Ilorin for KFA’s test As Muhammed gingers Golden Eaglets

The Golden Eaglets arrived safely in Ilorin on Saturday ahead of their friendly match against Kwara Football Academy (KFA) Sunday’s match against the modelled KFA fixed for 10:00am at the Ilorin Township Stadium is yet another preparatory match for the fledging national Under-17 team being groomed for the 2015 CAN Championship to be hosted by Niger.

A contingent of 18 players and 8 officials and assistant coach, Kabiru Baleria due to his engagement at the on-going CAF’s Grade-C
License coaching course in Abuja arrived the Kwara state capital aboard Luxury Marcopolo Bus.

The entourage is led by Alhaji Yussuf Fresh, board member and chairman of the NFF’s youth committee.

Also on the trip to Ilorin en route to Lome through Lagos is Mr. Patrick Pascal (MON), special assistant to the NFF’s President on Technical matters.

Meanwhile, the Golden Eaglets’ would likely parade the duo of Kehinde Ayinde and Kolawole Gbadamosi against their counterparts from KFA.Both players who were scouted from the KFA, have been impressive in the team’s previous matches and are now relishing the prospect of playing in front of their home fans.

Yet Coach Emmanuel Amuneke maintained the friendlies in Ilorin and Lagos, would condition the players physically and mentally for the upcoming WAFU B Under-17 Tournament in neighbouring Togo.

“These games are good for the boys because it gives us the opportunity to see how they could react to different situations,” he said.
The Golden Eaglets won all their three previous matches including a 6-0 thrashing of Super Falcons and an identical 2-1 win against Yuguda Boys of Bauchi and College of Football, Abuja.

Muhammed gingers Golden Eaglets

Musa Muhammed, the inspirational captain of the 2013 FIFA Under-17 World Cup-winning team, has sent solidarity message to the new boys.

Musa has repeatedly been extolled for his uncommon leadership quality and only on Wednesday, he breezed into the NFF/FIFA Goal Project arena to watch the lads beat Yuguda Boys 2-1.

Musa in a voice note via BlackBerry to an official of the Golden Eaglets shortly after the team’s departure from Abuja to Ilorin wished the team success in their upcoming matches.

“I hope everybody is okay and doing well,” said Musa who scored a breathtaking free-kick and the last goal of the 2013 Under-17 World Cup final match when Nigeria mauled Mexico 3-0.”I want to wish the team journey mercies and good luck in all the matches.”

Now with Turkish side, Besiktas, Musa is presently in the Flying Eagles camp in Abuja and has already been promoted the captain of the national under-20 side by coach Garba Manu (MFR).

Golden Eaglets get 2-1 win against Yuguda Boys

Golden Eaglets made it two wins in as many test matches following a 2-1 win against Yuguda Boys at the NFF/FIFA Goal Project in Abuja on Wednesday.

Two goals in each half by Suleiman Abdullahi and Kehinde Ayinde put the new Under-17 recruits in front but the youngsters from Bauchi eventually pulled one back via a penalty kick barely a minute to the end of the match.

In attendance to watch the mid-morning match were Alhaji Mohammed Fresh, board member and chairman of the NFF’s youth committee as well as former Nigerian international Patrick Pascal amongst others including Muhammed Musa- the inspirational captain of the 2013 Golden Eaglets’ World Cup-winning team who breezed in towards the end.

However, it was the Yuguda Boys that nearly went in front in the 34th minute when a well-struck free kick by Babaji Abubakar on the
periphery of the box was punched away by Amos Benjamin in goal for the Eaglets.

Golden Eaglets’ first goal, however, came in the 44th minute when petit Kehinde Ayinde broke free from the right flank and after
evading his shadows, he flicked a pass to Henry Akibi who in turn, passed to Suleiman Abdullahi to slot home the first goal.
On resumption, the Eaglets increased the tempo of the game as substitute Kelechi Nwakali combined beautifully with Ayinde to
terrorize their markers.

In the 79th minute, Kelechi swiftly launched a through pass to Ayinde; who swerved and rounded off goalkeeper Sani to push the ball into an empty net for the second goal of the highly-charged encounter. Yet the Yuguda Boys did not give up as they piled pressure on the Eaglets’ defence that eventually conceded a penalty which was buried into the net by Ibrahim Yahaya barely a minute to the end of the match.

Both Coach Emmanuel Amuneke (MON) and Bala Maijama’a Umar of Yuguda Boys praised the gallantry of the two sides:” Frankly I’m with the Eaglets bearing in mind that they are just putting them together,” said Umar.”It was a good opportunity for us too to ascertain thereadiness of our boys before going for a youth tournament in
Portugal.”

…As Gov. Imoke tasks new technical crew

Senator Liyel Imoke (CON), Executive Governor of Cross River State, has sent message of solidarity and best wishes to the new technical crew of the national Under-17 team.

Imoke, who is one of the visible hands behind the victorious 2013 FIFA U-17 World Cup Golden Eaglets, said it was imperative to build on the success of last year.

Speaking through Hon. Patrick Ugbe, the state’s commissioner for sport and youth development, Imoke said he was proud to associate with the Golden Eaglets even as the new team is being put in place.

“We can’t forget so soon about what the Golden Eaglets did the last term,” the amiable Governor was quoted as saying.”There is no doubt that we are proud of the role we played since our government was there all the way to support them.”

The Golden Eaglets class of 2013 camped in Calabar throughout their campaign where they won all their qualifiers en route to the CAN Under-17 Championship in Morocco. Governor Imoke would later reward players and officials with a house after they won the FIFA Under-17 World Cup.

“It is our hope that the present team would emulate the success of the last set,” the Governor reportedly said.

In the meantime, Prince Udofia, newly appointed Golden Eaglets’ coordinator, said the present team would equally appreciate the Governor’s father-figure support in the days ahead.

“My colleagues who were part of the last set told me how wonderful it was camping and playing in Calabar because it is a peaceful place,” said the former Bayelsa United star who incidentally hails from Akwa-Ibom state.” We are praying that the Governor would also extend his benevolence to the present team because he is regarded as the Golden Eaglets’ godfather!”