3rd August, 2014
Nigeria’s U-17 team, Golden Eaglets are through to the final qualifying round of the 2015 African U-17 Championship to be hosted in Niger after a 5-0 aggregate win against Les Leopards of Congo Democratic Republic.
Leading 1-0 from the first-leg second round match played in Kinshasa last weekend, the Golden Eaglets confirmed their superiority yet again with a 4-0 win at the M.K.O Abiola Stadium in Abeokuta on Sunday in front of appreciative home fans.
There were first half goals for Suleiman Abdullahi, Victor Osimhen, while Kehinde Ayinde and Samuel Chukwueze added the other two goals in the second half.
In attendance to watch the second-leg encounter were Ogun State’s First Lady, Mrs. Olufunso Ibikunle, who stood in for Governor Senator Ibikunle Amosun as the Special Guest of Honour; Dr. Lanre Tejuoso (Ogun State’s Commissioner for Youth & Sports); Chief Mike Umeh, Acting President, Nigeria Football Federation, NFF and his 1st Vice, Dr. Shehu Adamu amongst other important dignitaries.
The Golden Eaglets dominated the game from the outset with some good positional play but failed to convert early chances. But in the 30th minute, Suleiman Abdullahi scrambled the ball into the net for the first goal after the Congolese goalkeeper Sese Bia Israel failed to deal with a floater from Kingsley Michael.
Michael nearly added the second five minutes later when his long range shot was parried away by Israel. From then, the Golden Eaglets mounted more pressure forcing the Congolese to concede a corner in the 42nd minute. Suleiman took the resultant corner kick and Victor Osimhen nodded into the net after Israel’s failed to hold tightly to the ball.
At the start of the second half, the Congolese nearly pulled a goal back in the 47th minute but Djemes Diala’s angular shot was caught by Goalkeeper Akpan Udoh. Udoh was also at his best few minutes later when he touched away
Mutatu Mbedi’s well struck free kick.
Amuneke pulled out injured Chinedu Ndu for Samuel Chukwueze and it was the gifted striker that provided Kehinde Ayinde the pass to bury the ball beyond Israel for the third goal in the 67th. The last moment was very dramatic as Abdullahi saw his ball hit the goal post in the 89th minute after the goalkeeper has been well displaced by Chukwueze. But Chukwueze still had the final word when he drove the ball into the net with almost the last kick of the match.
Golden Eaglets would now meet Gabon in the third and final round for a place in the next African U-17 Championship after the latter eliminated Ethiopia on a 3-0 aggregate on Saturday.
Meanwhile, acting president of NFF, Chief Umeh, has pledged that the federation would leave nothing to chance to ensure that the team qualify for the 2015 African U-17 Championship in Niger.
Umeh who was in company of Dr. Emmanuel Ikpeme, Director, Technical of the NFF, met the players and officials at the team’s Continental Suite Hotel in Abeokuta on Sunday for the first time in his capacity as the head of the NFF.
He said he was impressed with their performance so far, adding that the NFF would continue to support the team despite its lean resources for obvious reasons.
“We are really happy to put you here at this hotel because this is the same place that the Super Eagles used to use,” said the former manager of the 1994 African Cup of Nations’ winning team.
“This is our way of appreciating you and we want you to continue to do your best because you equally have the support of President Goodluck Jonathan and the Sports Minister.”
He later approved the request of Coach Emmanuel Amuneke (MON) for continuous camping of the team ahead of their final qualifying match in September, adding that the NFF is well aware of the challenges inherent in grooming players at this level.
“We understand the challenges but be rest assured that we would continue with your camping in Calabar,” he added.
Amuneke thanked the Umeh for visiting the team team before their 4-0 win against Congo Democratic Republic on Sunday in Abeokuta, saying the coaching crew would continue to do their best to meet the aspirations of the NFF as well as Nigerians in general.