Eaglets at training, ready to go
Alhaji Aminu Maigari, President of Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) on Wednesday led the ‘super Golden Eaglets’ from Al Ain to the historic city of Sharjah-about 25 minutes drive off the commercial city of Dubai-ahead of their quarter-final match against Uruguay on Saturday.
The journey which took about two-and-half hour by bus was seamless as the Golden Eaglets land safely in the city that house ‘eye of the Emirates Ferris wheel’ in time to keep a date with Uruguay for their quarter-final match on Saturday.
Golden Eaglets are housed at the impressive Radisson Blu Resort complete with its idyllic serene environment complete with a beach.
“This is a beautiful place,” said coach Nduka Ugbade. “We would do everything in our capacity to make it a memorable time by winning our next game here.”
The Golden Eaglets have since settled down in their new abode and would resume training session on Wednesday as the coaching crew maps out strategy against the South American side, Uruguay.
In a related development, the Local Organising Committee (LOC) in Al Ain has saluted the Golden Eaglets over their qualification for the quarter final stage of the FIFA Under-17 World Cup as well as impacting positively on the tournament.
“We in Al Ain won’t forget the Nigerian U-17 team in a hurry,” said LOC venue manager, Ahmed Woldghamail.
“Apart from playing an exciting football, your fans were fantastic and they left a positive image herewith the way they supported the team.”
Woldghamail, who can be regarded as an Emirati-Nigerian for his long association with the West African country, said he has adopted the Golden Eaglets after his native country crashed out of the tournament, praying for a successful outing for the team in subsequent matches.
Similarly, Senator Liyel Imoke, the Executive Governor of Cross River State, has promised to be in the UAE should the Golden Eaglets progress beyond the quarter final stages. This much was disclosed to the team by Hon. Patrick Ugbe, the state’s
commissioner for sport after the 4-1 second round win against Iran on Tuesday
“Kindly convey the congratulations of His Excellency to the team .He’s looking forward to their progression further in the competition and will be with them soon.”
Manu salutes Eaglets’ Marauders after 4-1 win over Iran
A confident-Coach Manu Garba has said that the Golden Eaglets are now ready to steamroll their way and win a record fourth Under-17 World Cup title after a 4-1 thrashing of Iran at the Khalifa Bin Zayed Stadium in Al Ain on Tuesday.
Three goals in the first half by Samuel Okon, Kelechi Iheanacho and Captain Musa Muhammed and another by Musa Yahaya in the second half, sealed Nigeria’s berth in the quarter final and a date with Uruguay in Sharjah on Saturday.
“I said earlier that my attack is blistering and I still maintained that it would be difficult for any team to stop us from scoring because our team loves scoring goals, “said Manu at the post-match conference.”
With 18 goals in four matches ,the Golden Eaglets now have an average of 4.5 goals per match and Manu said there are still many more to come: “We don’t pretend we are an attacking team though there are still few errors but we are going to correct them as we go further we progress .”
Manu said he has no reason to change his tried and tested coaching style, adding that the best form of defence is to attack, he maintained in the flash interview immediately after the match.
“I always want my team to attack and I would always improvise because this is a team where anybody can score.”
He said he rated the players eighty percent for being able to score four goals in a match ‘of this magnitude’ which is a knockout stage of a World Cup. Manu though, has some harsh words for Iranian coach, Ali Doustimehr for casting aspersion on the eligibility of his players.
“All the players we have here passed the MRI test and we even conducted another round one month before we came here and we would probably take on the Iranian coach on this,” he noted, allaying fears over Iheanacho who copped an injury soon after scoring the second goal against Iran and his fifth in the competition.
“It is a minor injuryand Iheanacho should be back for the next game.”
Sports Minister commends Eaglets crew
Mallam Bolaji Abdullahi,the Honourable Minister for Sports, have also
commended the coaching crew of the National Under-17 team for moulding a team that Nigerians are proud of.
The Golden Eaglets remain the toast of the fans following an excellent campaign by reaching the quarter finals in an excellent style.
The Minister in a telephone conversation relayed to the team hours before their Second Round Match against Iran on Tuesday, further advised the team not to rest on their oars in their quest for a record fourth title in the FIFA Under-17 World Cup.
“We are impressed with what you have done so far and I must commend the crew for being able to put together such a good side,” said the chairman of the National Sports Commission via a telephone facilitated by Alhaji Aminu Maigari,President of the NFF.
“You have done well so far but you must continue to do your best in
order to win the trophy.”
Erstwhile Vice President of the NFF, Chief Amanze Uchegbulam equally spoke in the same vein even as he counselled the Golden Eaglets not to play the gallery,advising the players to pay attention to their coaches’ instructions.
“You have done a very good job and I salute all of you, Manu, Amuneke,Ugbade,Amadi and the rest of the crew,” said Uchegbulam.
“Kindly, impress it upon the players not to get carried away with all the cheers from the fans when they are on the pitch.”
Both Coach Manu Garba (MFR) and Golden Eaglets’ Vice captain, Success Isaac took turns to assure that the team would do everything humanly possible to be crowned champions on November 8.
Ugbade: Brazil not yet on our mind
Golden Eaglets’ Assistant Coach, Nduka Ugbade has reireated that the team is not yet thinking of meeting tournament’s favourites, Brazil in the finale of the 2013 UAE FIFA Under-17 World Cup. Nigeria and Brazil are seeking a record fourth title at this level
and there is the small talk that they could both navigate through for an eventual clash on Nov. 8 at the Mohammed Bin Zayed Stadium in Abu Dhabi.
“We don’t want to be bothered with the tag of a favourite and our philosophy remains the same:one game at a time,” Ugbade said matter-of-factly.”Our objective right from the start was to win our matches and we continue to be guided by that.”
Golden Eaglets opened their account at the 15th edition of the global cadet championship with a flattering 6-1 win over defending champions, Mexico; drew 3-3 with Sweden; thrashed Iraq and Iran 5-0 and 4-1 respectively.
“It is only in pool and betting that you forecast matches but we are in for a serious business here,” noted Ugbade in his characteristic jocular style.” We don’t have to count the chicks before they hatch and we are looking forward to every game with a winning mentality.”
The Golden Eaglets’ train move to the 10,877-capacity Sharjah Stadium where they will meet Uruguay in the quarter finals on Saturday.
FIFA gives Iheanacho, Ali-Baba clean bill
The FIFA medical committee at the Under-17 World Cup UAE 2013 headed by Dr. Yacine Zerguine,has given Golden Eaglets’ duo of Kelechi Iheanacho and Saliu Ali-Baba a clean bill of health after a recent dope control test.
In a memo addressed to the Team’s Physician, Dr. Ayodeji Olarinoye, FIFA noted inter alia: ‘We have the pleasure to inform you that the analysis of the samples provided by the players Iheanacho Kelechi, Saliu Baba during the doping controls performed after the above-mentioned match( Nigeria Vs. Iraq) did not show the presence of a prohibited substance.’
Altogether,five players namely Jide Idowu;Chidiebere Nwakali, Uzoho Odinaka(twice), Iheanacho and Ali-Baba were subjected to the mandatory test in the Preliminary Round with an express commendation by FIFA :”We thank you for your valuable support in the fight against drug abuse in football.”
Meanwhile, Habib Makanjuola and Chigozie Obasi were picked for the dope control test after the 4-1 over Iran.
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