11th AJC: Golden Eaglets Chase Ticket Against Guinea…As CAF Picks Congolese Referee

It would be battle-royale as the two leading teams in Group A at Niger 2015, Nigeria and Guinea tango at the 30,00 capacity Stade Général Seyni Kountché (SGSK) on Wednesday .

There is so much to play for since a win for either side would guarantee a berth into the semi finals and a ticket for the 2015 FIFA U-17 World Cup in Chile. Of course, there is the undercurrent since the Guineans would seek to avenge their twin loss to their Nigerian counterparts on the road to the last championship in Morocco following a 3-0 and 4-0 win in Calabar and Conakry respectively.

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

“I don’t want you to have the erroneous belief that we are the world champions as most commentators always say,” Coach Emmanuel Amuneke warned his wards against complacence ahead of the crucial encounter.

“Yes, Nigeria is the world champion at this level but we have to create our own history by winning something; the past is gone.” Amuneke who was an assistant coach the last time in Morocco, has every reason to be wary after the Golden Eaglets stumbled and lost 1-0 to Cote d’Ivoire in their second game despite a 6-1 massacre of Ghana earlier.

“We are not getting carried away after the victory against Niger because we know Guinea can be tricky after watching them against Zambia,” noted Amuneke.

He has also reminded the players about the task ahead, urging them to
be watchful of the crafty West Africans: “We came here with one objective: To qualify for the World Cup in Chile and after that we can begin to talk about other things. You can see that if you allow them, they can play but if you follow our instructions, we would all have reason to celebrate on Wednesday after the game.”

Already, the Nigerian camp has indentified gifted number 11-shirted Abddoulaye Jules Keita as the lynchpin in the Guinean line-up as well as Captain Mohammed Mary Kurume who holds forth in defence, not forgetting agile goalkeeper, Mousa Camara, who foiled Zambia repeatedly on Sunday.

11th CAF African U-17 Championship

CAF Picks Congolese Referee

The Golden Eaglets would for the second time at the 11th African U-17
Championship in Niger have the benefit of wearing the country’s home gear against Guinea on Wednesday.

The Eaglets began their campaign at Niger 2015 on Sunday against Niger in the traditional green jerseys and the Confederation of African Football (CAF) has again approved same for the match against Guinea while the goalkeepers would wear complete blue colours. On the other hand, Guinean players would spot red shirt, yellow short and white socks.

Golden Eaglets

The match which will kick off at 4:00pm Nigerian time at the Stade Général Seyni Kountché (SGSK) would be handled by Ndala Jean-Jacques Ngambo from the Congo Democratic Republic. Ngambo, who was born in 1987, has been an international referee since 2013 and he has horned his skill in major African competitions including the CAF Champions League.

To serve as referee assistants are the duo of Arsénio Chadreque Marengula from Mozambique and Senegalese Serigne Cheikh Toure who was equally on duty on Sunday when Nigeria beat Niger. Lazard Tsiba Kamba from Congo is the fourth and reserved referee while Ngenzi Raul Gisanura would be the match commissioner.

Niger 2015, We Are Not Under Pressure Against Niger: Nwakali

Mercurial captain, Kelechi Nwakali, has stated here that the Golden Eaglets are not under any pressure ahead of their top of the drawer encounter against host Niger at the 30,000 capacity Stade Général Seyni Kountché (SGSK) as the 2015 U-17 Championship gets underway.

As expected, the Golden Eaglets would be hard pressed by the home team for obvious reasons as their fore bearers defeated their host 4-1 at the same venue in one of the qualifiers towards Morocco 2013.

So it would be a case of Déjà vu on Sunday and Nwakali said he and his
teammates are at the ready for the encounter:

“We are not under pressure of playing against the host Niger,” said the attacking midfielder who is the junior brother of Chidiebere Nwakali who was a member of the 2013 World Cup-winning team. “Rather, it is a great honour for us to start the competition against the host and we are ready to face the challenges.”

He revealed that the coaching crew has updated them on what to expect playing in front of a partisan home fans, adding the onus is now on them to deliver the goods.

Golden Eaglets Captain Kelechi Nwakali in action

Said Nwakali: “They (coaching crew), have told us this is the most important match because if we win, it would boost our confidence for the other matches in order to qualify for the World Cup in Chile. Once we win our first game, we would be relaxed to play the other two group matches.”

Nwakali has been the fulcrum of the team since he led his teammates to a third-place finish at the WAFU B Tournament in April 2013 and he reckoned that they are ready to go all the way in Niger.

“We came third the first time I led out the team to a tournament in Togo,” recalled Nwakali. “The experience was a good exposure for us; we were disappointed in Togo but we are here in Niger to correct ourselves and do much better.”

Amuneke Predicts Tough Test Against Niger

Golden Eaglets

Golden Eaglets’ Head Coach, Emmanuel Amuneke, has predicted a tough test for his wards when they open their 11th African U-17 Championship account against Niger at the Stade Général Seyni Kountché (SGSK) in Niamey on Sunday.

The former Barcelona star believed a win against the host would set a good omen as Nigeria push for the trophy yet again. Golden Eaglets nearly won the championship the last time in Morocco but lost to Cote d’Ivoire in a dramatic 5-4 penalty shootout after a pulsating 1-1 draw.

“The first game is very important and we want to win irrespective of the fact that we are meeting Niger,” said Amuneke who scored a brace in the 2-1 win over Zambia at 1994 African Cup of Nations Final Match. “Of course, we know it is never going to be an easy match because both teams would like to win. ”

He said he was not oblivious about the huge test of playing against the host in front of a partisan crowd, adding his wards must gird their loins:”We have told the players in clear terms that we want nothing but victory against Niger,” he said.”It’s never going to be easy but we must be tactically and psychologically sound for this match.”

Golden Eaglets’, who are drawn in Group A, would subsequently play Guinea and Zambia on February 18 and 22 respectively but Amuneke further stated that the focus of the team is Sunday’s match against Niger: “Mentally, we must be prepared for the home team but if we win, it will put us on course for other matches.”

Golden Eaglets

Meanwhile, the Golden Eaglets have started their build up towards Sunday’s opening fixture against Niger with impressive sessions at the practice pitch of Stade Général Seyni Kountché (SGSK) on Friday.

All the 21 players featured in the Morning session with players put under their paces in fitness exercises; passing drill; marking amongst others.

Amuneke psyched the players on the stiff test to expect on Sunday as the team fine tunes all the rough edges:”We need to psychologically prepare ourselves in all circumstances because in football, you can never neglect the inconveniences,”he said. “Our idea is that we want to win though we don’t know what the match can bring, we must be able to resolve the issue.”

Birthday boy, Suleiman, eyes Eaglets win

His birthday anniversary coincides with Golden Eaglets’ opening fixture at the 11th African U-17 Championship against host Niger on Sunday and Suleiman Muhammad wants nothing but victory.

Suleiman fondly called Yaro (small boy) by team-mates; is one of the new faces in the team but has been impressive since he was drafted after the team’s last open screening.

“I’m very lucky to be part of this team,” said a very shy Suleiman with a cherry smile.

Suleiman has every reason to be happy after he missed out of the
national Under-15 team that won the soccer Gold medal at the African
Youth Olympic Games in Botswana last year.

“I was not happy when my friends went to Botswana but I’m happy now,” he said.
Hails from Nigeria’s soccer city, Jos, Suleiman said he would be the happiest guy on Sunday should the Golden Eaglets win their opening
match against Niger.

11th CAF African U-17 Championship

“Insha Allah (by the grace of God), we shall beat Niger on Sunday and I have begged my team-mates to make it a special day for me,” explained Suleiman, whose favourite foods include rice and spaghetti.

Born February 15, 2000, Suleiman is the third in a family with three other boys and girls and revealed he wants to make his family proud.

“I’m the first person to play football in the family and it is my prayer that I become a great footballer,” he said.

“The only thing I love besides playing football is prayers; and I pray before matches and Insha Allah, we are going to win on Sunday,” he added.

Pomp As Golden Eaglets Arrive Niamey

11th CAF African U-17 Championship

Nigeria’s Under-17 team, Golden Eaglets, Thursday safely arrived safely in Niamey for the 11th African Under-17 Championship and were given a royal welcome by members of the local-based Nigeria Football Supporters Club.

Golden Eaglets Arrive Niamey

Flag-waving members of the NFSC led by their chairman, Sidney Sunday Ubanna, rode in a motorcade with the team to their new abode in Niamey, Palace Royale Hotel, where accommodation have been reserved for the team.

The Nigerians assured the team of total support for the team throughout their stay in Niamey. A representative of Nigeria Ambassador to Niger, who was unavoidably absent, was also at the hotel to welcome the team.

“Some of us were actually in Sokoto yesterday when you played the friendly match against Fasbir and we were really impressed with the performance of the boys,” said Sidney.”We are also expecting more of our members and we are going to support the team all the way at this championship.”

Meanwhile, Coach Emmanuel Amuneke on arrival, told the players to remain focussed about the assignment at hand “We thank God we arrived safely here in Niamey and we have to remain focussed in the next two weeks in order to achieve our objectives,” he said. “We are here for business and by the grace of God; it shall be well with us here in Niamey.”

Golden Eaglets Arrive Niamey

In the meantime, the team would train twice on Friday and once on Saturday to strategise for their first match .The Golden Eaglets would open their Niger 2015 account with the championship’s opening fixture against the host, Niger on Sunday at the Stade Général Seyni Kountché (SGSK) multi-purpose stadium. They are drawn in Group A where they would also play Guinea and Zambia on February 18 and 21 respectively.

The Championship holds between February 15 and March 1 with the semi-finalists to represent the continent at the 2015 FIFA Under-17 World Cup in Chile in October.

Pinnick Sends Goodwill Message To Golden Eaglets

The President of Nigeria Football Federation(NFF), Mr. Amaju Pinnick, has told the Golden Eaglets to be fearless in their quest to conquer the continent at the 11th African Under-17 Championship which kick-off on Sunday in Niamey.

The Nigeria’s Under-17 team last won the trophy in 2007 and nearly went all the way in Morocco the last time in 2013 only to lose to Junior Elephants of Cote d’Ivoire via 5-4 penalty shoot-out after 1-1 draw.

In a goodwill message delivered to the team yesterday by Chairman of Chairmen, Alhaji Musa Ibrahim Gusau, on behalf of the board and management of the NFF, Mr. Pinnick was quoted as saying that the present team is on the threshold of history if they can conquer the continent again.

” You have a big task ahead of you because you are the team to beat in Niger because as the defending champions of the Under-17 World Cup, no team would take it easy with you ” Gusau told players and officials of the team after watching their training at the Giginya Memorial Stadium.” The President asked me to come and let you know that we are solidly behind you; and we are confident that you would do well at the championship in Niger.”

NFF President, Amaju Pinnick

He informed that Mr. Pinnick was unavoidably absent to see the team in Sokoto due to other engagements but has promised to be in Niamey in the later stages of the competition.

“We believe in you and though the president cannot come here to watch your trainings, he is confident that you would go far in Niger and by the grace of God, he would be with you later to give his support,” he explained.

Gusau further advised the players on total commitment to the task and also encouraged them to listen to the instructions of their coaches following their selection after a long and difficult process.

In his response, Coach Emmanuel Amuneke thanked the NFF under the leadership of Mr. Pinnick, saying his wards are rearing to go all the way at Niger 2015 : ” We are not going to make many promises but on behalf of this team, Insha Allah (by the grace of God), we shall bring smiles to the faces of Nigerians.”

Golden Eaglets pay rapt attention

..Team to stay at Royal Palace Hotel

The Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) has revealed that the Golden Eaglets would be accommodated at Royal Palace Hotel during their campaign at the 11th African U-17 Championship in Niger.

The newly-built is reportedly a four-star facility and the NFF has already secured rooms for the team after thorough inspection by Director of Competitions, Dr. Muhammed Sanusi.

According to him, the Royal Palace Hotel is tidy and within close proximity to the Stade Général Seyni Kountché (SGSK) multi-purpose stadium where Golden Eaglets will play their first two matches against host Niger and Guinea on February 15 and 18 respectively.

“The NFF is doing the best to ensure there won’t be any hitch when you travel to Niamey and we have secured your accommodation at the Royal Palace Hotel,” informed Sanusi.” In fact, we are very lucky since you are going to be the only team to be accommodated there after the ballot for hotels were made in Equatorial Guinea by CAF.

“I’m confident you won’t to have much difficulty even with the weather since coming to Sokoto has provided you the opportunity to acclimatise before going to Niamey,” added Sanusi.

Meanwhile, the Local Organising committee of Niger 2015 has appointed Haruna as the Team Liaison officer (TLO) to the Golden Eaglets. Haruna reportedly has close affinity with Nigerians after playing for Lobi Stars and Kano Pillars in the past.