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.

NFF: Togo Test good for Eaglets

Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) are of the view that the coming WAFU B Under-17 Tournament in Togo is a test run for the Golden Eaglets ahead of the qualifiers for the 2015 CAN Championship.

The Golden Eaglets that has recorded victories in their four previous matches, would round off their tune-up for the tournament in Togo against Pepsi Football Academy at the Agege Stadium in Lagos on Today at 4:00pm.

But that success notwithstanding, it is the conviction of Alhaji Yussuf Fresh, a board member of the NFF that the Golden Eaglets are
not yet ‘good-to-go. “So far, so good because I have been following up on all the activities of the team right from the start of the screening though the momentum is coming up, ” said Yussuf , “we are still expecting some good players to be integrated since this is a national team what I can say is that there is progress,”

While commending the coaching crew for the string of victories so far, Yussuf said matter-of-factly that the tournament in Togo would define the readiness of the team for CAN 2015 qualifiers.

The Golden Eaglets have been drawn bye to the second round and would engage the winner of the first round fixture between Burundi and Congo in July and August.

“Sincerely, I don’t think the team is ready yet despite their good performance in friendly matches but the tournament in Togo would show whether they have arrived or not,” he said.

Yussuf, who will be leading the Golden Eaglets to the tournament in Togo, said his observation was borne out of the fact that the Golden Eaglets are the defending FIFA Under-17 World Cup champions as such; the technical must ensure that only the best players are included in their program.