The Nigeria Football Association (NFF) has clarified that a certain Aneke Atta reportedly asking players to pay for a place in the U-17 National Team has no relationship or connection whatsoever with one of its licensed intermediaries, Mr. Emefie Atta Aneke. Golden Eaglets’ Head Coach, Manu Garba had last week raised alarm that a self-acclaimed […]
The delegation of U-17 National Team, Golden Eaglets, departed for the Four-Nation Suwon Invitational Tournament on Sunday without team captain Kelechi Nwakali and coordinator Prince Udofia.
Thenff.com learnt that the Embassy of Korea Republic in Nigeria had returned the passports of the player and official as ‘unreadable’ – a rather strange explanation given that the two persons had been traveling with the same passports for years now.
“We don’t know what they mean by ‘unreadable’ because the player, Nwakali and the team coordinator, Udofia, have been using these same passports without any issues.
“In any event, we are working hard to see what we can do and make the Embassy issue visas to these two persons on Monday, so that they can travel on Tuesday to join the delegation,” said an NFF protocol official.
The development meant 17 players traveled by Qatar Airways on Sunday, to arrive at Korea Republic’s capital, Seoul on Monday evening for the tournament that the NFF believes will stoke competition spirit in the young lads ahead of their defence of the FIFA U-17 World Cup title in Chile in seven weeks’ time.
Nigeria play hosts Korea, Croatia and Brazil at the Four-Nation tournament, which the Golden Eaglets also took part in ahead of their triumph at the FIFA U-17 World Cup hosted by the Koreans in 2007.
Meanwhile, Super Eagles’ forward, Odion Ighalo, on Sunday bid the Golden Eaglets farewell as they depart the country for the 4-Nation Suwon Invitational Tournament in South Korea.
The striker who plies his trade with Watford FC was an instant hit with the fledgling youngsters at the Nnamdi Azikwe International Airport in Abuja en route to Korea via Lagos as he exchanged pleasantries with players and officials of the team.
“I want to wish you best of luck on this trip as well as the World Cup in Chile,” Ighalo said flashing his trademark smile.”You guys have to work hard.”
Meanwhile, Chairman of Nationwide League One, Alhaji Ahmad Kawu on Sunday led the Golden Eaglets to the Tournament in South Korea as its leader of delegation.
Kawu was also with the coach Emmanuel Amuneke-led side when they went on two-match tour of Cairo in 2014 as well as the 2015 CAN U-17 Championship in Niger. He led the team out of Nigeria via Murtala Muhammed Airport aboard Qatar Airways to Doha where they would take a connecting flight to Korea.
Before departing Nigeria, Amuneke reiterated that the tournament was going to be a good test run for itsfledgling side.
“We are going to Korea not just for the fun of it,” he told the players during the last training session In Abuja on Saturday. “We are going to meet other teams that have also qualified for the World Cup and that means we have to work hard.”
The Nigeria Football Federation has commended the U-17 National Team, Golden Eaglets, for earning a place at the FIFA U-17 World Cup finals taking place in Chile later in the year.
NFF President, Amaju Melvin Pinnick declared on Wednesday that semi final defeat to South Africa at the African U-17 Championship in Niger Republic has not diminished the value of the Eaglets’ accomplishment.
“Certainly, every Nigerian yearned for the Eaglets to win the African championship trophy in Niger after the boys reached the semi finals. They lost by a lone goal but we cannot accuse the players of lack of effort.
“The present NFF administration has continued to harp on the fact that it is not only concerned with winning trophies. We want to win trophies but more than that, we want to build a sustainable football culture.”
Pinnick assured that the boys will not be treated like outcasts following the failure to reach the Championship final.
“The NFF will send a jet to pick the players after the third place match on Sunday. The technical crew remains intact and the NFF will give support to them to plug the necessary holes in the team so that we will have a squad capable of doing the nation proud in Chile.”
The NFF President also noted that Cup holders Cote d’Ivoire were eliminated in the group phase of the championship in Niger.
In its determination to ensure a very successful for the U-17 National Team, Golden Eaglets, at the 11th African U-17 Championship in Niger Republic, the Nigeria Football Federation has been actualizing plans to make the team’s stay in that country comfortable.
As part of this strategy, the NFF Director of Competitions, Dr. Mohammed Sanusi was in Niamey, capital of Niger Republic last week to meet with prominent personalities within the Local Organizing Committee and officials of the Embassy of Nigeria.
“I had meetings with the top officials of the local organizing committee of the championship, including the President of LOC, General Secretary of FENIFOOT and the Head of Competitions. Our meetings centred on accommodation and transportation of Team Nigeria during the championship, as well as accreditation of the Nigeria delegation, ticketing and other logistics.
“I also met with the top people in the Embassy of Nigeria in Niamey, with particular emphasis on ticket issues.”
Dr. Sanusi also discussed with members of the local organizing committee of the 11th African Junior Championship on the movement of the Nigeria team into Niger Republic.
“Since they are having their final training camp in Sokoto, we are making arrangements for them to move into Niamey by road, and I have intimated the organizers and we have finalized on security arrangement for the team.”
The Nigeria team of 21 players, 10 officials and a number of administrative officials will depart Sokoto for Niamey on Thursday, 12th February. The Eaglets will stay at the Hotel Royale Palace, with their first two matches (against host Niger Republic and Guinea) at the Stade General Seyni Kountche, while the last match (against Zambia) will take place at the Stade Municipal, which has artificial turf.
“The Nigeria community in Niger Republic is also eagerly awaiting the arrival of the Golden Eaglets, the world champions. They have promised to give the Eaglets maximum support to go all the way and win the African trophy, which will serve as a launch-pad towards retaining the FIFA U-17 World Cup title in Chile later this year.”
The U-17 National Team, Golden Eaglets, returned to the country on Monday from a two-match friendly tour of Egypt and will fly to ‘home base,’ Calabar on Tuesday morning.
Emmanuel Amuneke’s wards drew 0-0 with their Egyptian counterparts in the first match on Friday before lashing their hosts 4-2 on Sunday to hit the much–needed winning mentality ahead of their 2015 African U-17 Championship qualifying fixture against the U-17 National Team of Democratic Republic of Congo.
“We are making all the necessary arrangements for the Eaglets to go to Kinshasa and do the nation proud, and make the return leg in Nigeria a ceremonial affair,” stated NFF Acting General Secretary, Lawrence Katken.
Nigeria begin her quest for a successful defence of the FIFA U-17 World Cup title with an away game in Kinshasa against the DR Congo starlets on Sunday, July 20. The return leg will hold in Nigeria two weeks after.
The Confederation of African Football has set next year’s continental finals for Niger Republic in the month of May, with the FIFA U-17 World Cup taking place in Chile between October 17 – November 8, 2015.
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