CAN U-17 NIGER 2015: Golden Eaglets tipped for qualification…

golden Eaglets line up against Egypt in Cairo.

CAN U-17 NIGER 2015: Golden Eaglets tipped for qualification…As Egypt, Nigeria battle again

Based on their current form and performances over three matches against Egypt, the Golden Eaglets have been tipped as one of the favourites to qualify for the 2015 African Under-17 Championship to be
hosted in Niger.

This much is the opinion of experienced Coach Mohammed Ali Gamiel, the Physical Education Doctorate Degree Holder after being pressed about the team under the aegis of Coach Emmanuel Amuneke following a pulsating goalless draw on Friday night.

Nigeria is drawn into the second round of the 2015 CAN Under-17 and would keep a date with Democratic Republic of Congo in Lubumbashi for a first leg fixture on July 20 but Gamiel said he has seen enough to give them a head start.

“Today’s (Friday) match gave me the opportunity to assess the Nigerian team much better because my boys are in a great physical condition and good form after we won two official games against Sudan(Egypt won on 7-3 aggregate),” reasoned Gamiel.

“I really like this Nigerian team and along with Egypt, I think they are the best now at the Under-17 level because I have watched about 10 teams already and I would definitely rate the Nigerian side very high.”

He would further commend the Golden Eaglets’ coaching crew for the spade of work already done over the last few months while counselling them not to rest on their oars.

“The Nigerian team has good skill, good physical condition and above all, good tactics and I would like to commend the coaches because it is not easy teaching players at this level,” he noted. “I’m very hopeful the Nigeria team and my team Insha Allah (by the grace of God) would qualify for the tournament in Niger.”

In a related development, both Nigeria and Egypt would face-off again 10:00pm on Sunday night at the Police Sports Federation Stadium in Cairo to complete their four-match series.

The Junior Pharaohs would be desirous to at least win match in front of their home fans after losing twice to the Golden Eaglets in Kaduna in May and followed by Friday’s goalless draw but the Golden Eaglets are cocksure of yet another victory.

“But for luck, we should have won Friday’s match because we created the best chances in the match,” noted Prince Udofia, Golden Eaglets’ co-ordinator. “I’m sure the boys would go all out for victory in
Sunday’s game.”

Sunday’s match would be Golden Eaglets’ Number 20 since Amuneke took over the reins of the Nigeria’s national Under-17 team and they are yet to lose a match in regulation time bar the 3-1 penalty shoot-out loss to Benin Republic after a energetic 1-1 draw at the WAFU B Tournament in April.

Double awards for Golden Eaglets…win Fair Play Award.. Goalkeeper Benjamin adjudged best

Officials and players of the National Under-17 team were full of smiles on Sunday after organisers of the WAFU B Tournament rewarded the Golden Eaglets with the Fair Play Award as well as crowning Amos Benjamin as the best goalkeeper.

While the Golden Eaglets were also adjudged as the best in terms o sportsmanship as they received less caution in their four matches, Benjamin received the best goalkeeper award for his outstanding display in all the team’s matches.

“Personally, I’m happy that Amos was picked as the best goalkeeper of the tournament because he has improved tremendously since he came into the camp “said goalkeepers’ trainer and former youth international,

Emeka Amadi. ” But more than anything else, I was impressed with his overall contribution to the success of the team and I think he can even get better. ” From the indices, he was outstanding because we have some other good goalkeeper at the tournament ;the Mali and Benin goalkeeper are equally good but I’m happy it was Benjamin that was picked as the best,” he noted.

In four matches, Benjamin conceded only a goal and his agility was there for all to see especially in the ill-fated 3-1 semi-finals’
penalty shoot-out loss to Benin. The product from Football College Abuja for instance, saved one-on-one situations against the rampaging Beninois to keep the score line at a respectable 1-1 draw in regulation time.

This is the second time that a Golden Eaglets’ goal-tender would be crowned the best at a tournament following the feat achieved by Dele Alampasu when the team won the FIFA Under-17 World Cup in the United Arab Emirates last year.

In the meantime, the ‘little Squirrels’ of Benin were the overall winner of the tournament after their 2-1 victory over Mali in Sunday’s Final Match. The Golden Eaglets finished in third position after a 3-0 win over hosts, Togo in the play-off also decided on Sunday.

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.

Golden Eaglets complete mauling of Mali…As Amuneke Denies being involved in Fisticuffs

Golden Eaglets complete mauling of Mali
…get another 2-0 win

The Golden Eaglets on Wednesday yet again confirmed their supremacy over their Malian counterparts with another 2-0 win at the WAFU B Tournament in Togo.

Two goals in the second half by Orji Okonkwo and Kehinde Ayinde cemented the Golden Eaglets top-place finish in Group B with the
maximum six points following an identical 2-0 win against their West African foes earlier on Monday.

Coach Emmanuel Amuneke kept faith with the same starting line-up he used on Monday and the only notable change for Mali was goalkeeper Samuel Diarra who replaced Traore Alou.

But it was the Malians that started on the offensive after Togolese referee Kossi Azaleko signalled Nigeria to take the mandatory
kick-off. As early as the third minute of the match, the Malians nearly went in front but were denied by brilliant Amos Benjamin in
goal for the Golden Eaglets.

The Nigerian youngsters responded well and both Kehinde Ayinde and Kingsley Michael buried the ball behind goalkeeper Suleiman in the 15th and 26thth minute respectively but referee Azaleko ruled both goals off-side. He also cancelled out a goal by the Malians in the 18th due to off side.

Azaleko was jeered by the fans towards the end of the first half for disallowing what looked like a legitimate goal for the Golden Eaglets orchestrated from a sweet passing movement by the quartet of Orji Okonkwo; Ayinde; Dauda Ganiyu and Jack Ipalibo.

But the stadium finally came alive in the second half with the Eaglets on the offensive and they were soon rewarded when Ayinde sent a perfect cross for Okonkwo to nod home the first goal in the 48th minute.

The goal brought confidence into the Eaglets and they held on to the lead despite occasional threats by the Malians. From the 70th
minutes, the Nigerians virtually dominated the game but the second goal of the match did not come until the 84th minute.

Man of the match, Eaglets’ skipper, Kelechi Nwakali sent a long range pass to Abdulganiyu who side-stepped two opposing defenders before releasing the ball for Ayinde to put behind goalkeeper Diarra for the second goal of the match. The Golden Eaglets would now face the runners up of Group A in one of the semi-finals on Thursday

Golden Eaglets vs. Mali
A. Benjamin (F. Idowu 91st) – A. Joshua. Gbadamosi; N. Hamza; A. Bamidele;- J. Ipalibo(S. Abdullahi 62nd );K.Michael; Nwakali; D.
Abdulganiyu- O. Okonkwo; K. Ayinde

‘Amuneke not involved in fisticuffs’

Prince Udofia, the Golden Eaglets’ coordinator has flatly denied story making the rounds that the national Under-17 Team’s coach, Emmanuel Amuneke’ was involved in a fist cuff at the team’s Blue Angel Hotel camp in Lome on Tuesday.

Udofia said the spurious report posted on the bogus web site, allnigeriasoccer.com, that Amuneke was slapped by a certain Henry
Galeano over the transfer package of Kelechi Iheanacho to Manchester City was a mere figment of imagination of the reporter.

“We wondered what was the motive behind the report that coach Amuneke was slapped by an agent?” thundered Udofia, the no-nonsense Team Manager of Abia Warriors. “There was nothing like that because in the first instance, we don’t even entertain any agent within the confines of the camp.

“If anything of such happened, we would have reported to relevant authorities here since we are representing the country and we are
adequately catered for by the Togolese security personnel.” Udofia has, therefore, advised the public to be wary of stories emanating from the specious allnigeriasoccer.com web site which is notorious for maligning the reputation of individuals on the altar of yellow journalism.

“We don’t want any distraction here and I personally want to appeal to our friends in the media to crosscheck their facts before rushing to the press,” he said. “We wouldn’t have dignified allnigeriasoccer.com web site with any response but we found it expedient so that they would not continue to feed unsuspecting Nigerian public with tissue of lies.”