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Tag: Golden Eaglet

  • WAFU B U17: Golden Eaglets qualify for Africa U17 Cup of Nations

    For the second time in less than one month, Nigeria underscored its stature in youth football on the African continent as five-time world champions Golden Eaglets reached the finals of the 2023 Africa U17 Cup of Nations in style.

     Two goals by deadball expert Emmanuel Michael and a glancing header by Abubakar Idris Abdullahi condemned the U17 boys of Cote d’Ivoire to a 1-3 defeat in the first semi final of the ongoing WAFU B U17 Championship in Cape Coast, Ghana.

     Yet, the Eaglets uncharacteristically conceded first when Yan Diomande scored from the penalty spot in the very first minute after a foul in the Nigerian box.

     The Nigerian boys launched onslaught after onslaught and were rewarded on the half-hour mark when Emmanuel Michael, who scored a spectacular goal from a 22-yard free-kick in the opening match against hosts Ghana, found the range off another free-kick from the right wing.

     Thirteen minutes later, Nigeria were ahead for the first time in the encounter when Michael, again from a free kick at the edge of the box, blindsided goalkeeper Mohamed Cisse with an intelligent attempt that swept past the static wall.

     The Ivorians came into the second half determined to browbeat the Eaglets with their size and stoutness, but they were pegged further back on the hour mark when Abubakar Idris Abdullahi found the net with a glancing header.

     Four minutes later, the Ivorians were down to 10 men after Makhete Moustapha N’diaye was shown the red card.

     Another free-kick by Emmanuel Michael in the 77th minute missed target narrowly, and Precious Tonye Williams came very close with four minutes left after a brilliant team move set him up with a clear chance.

     In Friday’s final, the Eaglets will take on the winner of the second semi final between hosts Ghana and Burkina Faso. However, victory over the Ivorians means they will be one of the eight participating teams at next year’s Africa U17 Cup of Nations in Algeria.

     Defender and deadball prodigy Emmanuel Michael was presented with the Man-of-the-Match award, for the third consecutive match.     

  • WAFU B: Golden Eaglet face Côte d’Ivoire in Semi-final on Tuesday

    Nigeria’s Golden Eaglets will slug it out with the Baby Elephants of Côte d’Ivoire in the semi-final of the WAFU B U-17 Championship on Tuesday to fight for a place for the the U-17 AFCON slated for Algeria in January 2023.

    The Ivorians sealed a place in the last four despite going down to a 4-2 defeat against Burkina Faso in their last group game.

    They finished second in the group after Niger defeated  Republic du Benin  by  3-1  in the other Group B game.

    The Golden Eaglets, who are unbeaten in the group finished top of Group A with six points following victories against hosts Ghana and Togo.

    In the other semi-final  Burkina Faso will clash with  Ghana for a place in the final holding next weekend.

    The two finalists will feature at the Africa U-17 Cup of Nations in Algeria next year.

  • WAFU B: Golden Eaglets hammer Ghana’s Black Starlets in Cape Coast

    Nigeria’s Golden Eaglets were imperious as they dominated and eventually overpowered hosts Ghana 4-2 on Saturday in the opening match of this year’s WAFU B U17 Championship taking place in Cape Coast, Ghana.

     The five-time world champions started off from where the country’s U20 Boys, Flying Eagles left off against Ghana’s Black Satellites at the WAFU B U20 Championship in Niger Republic last month, where the wards of Coach Ladan Bosso hammered their Ghanaian counterparts in the opening match on their way to the title.

     Wing back Emmanuel Michael set the Golden Eaglets on the way with a ferocious free-kick from some 23 yards in the 12th minute, which the Ghanaian goalkeeper, Ahmed Amadu Dembaram, had no answer to.

     Nigeria doubled the lead just a minute before half time through forward Precious Tonye Williams, ensuring they went into recess on the ascendancy against the host nation in the coastal town.

     Nigeria’s advantage was extended further in the 51st minute by Jubril Opeyemi Azeez, but the Starlets reduced the deficit seven minutes later when substitute Abdul Razak Salifu got the better of goalkeeper Richard Odoh.

     The Eaglets would not relent and in the 77th minute, midfielder Ebube Wisdom Okere netted to make it 4-1 for Nigeria.

     A momentary loss of concentration in the vital area led to Nigeria conceding a penalty with two minutes to the end, which was put away and cut Nigeria’s advantage to two goals.

     With the victory, the Eaglets top Group A of the championship ahead of their clash with Togo on Tuesday. Victory over the Togolese will guarantee Nigeria a spot in the tournament semi finals.

     Group B is made up of Cote d’Ivoire, Benin Republic, Burkina Faso and Niger Republic

  • WAFU B U17 TOURNEY: Golden Eaglets depart for Cape Coast

    Five –time world champions Nigeria will set out on course for another title on Wednesday when they depart the country for the Ghanaian city of Cape Coast, where they will participate in the Seven-Nation WAFU B U17 Championship that begins on Saturday.

     The two finalists from the tournament in Cape Coast will represent the WAFU B zone at the Africa U17 Cup of Nations billed for Algeria early next year, from where all four semi finalists will qualify for the FIFA U17 World Cup finals in Peru.

     Nigeria, with five world titles in the kitty, and three –time world champions and hosts Ghana will set the tournament rolling on Saturday with a potentially –explosive encounter at the Stade Cape Coast starting from 4pm Ghana time (5pm Nigeria time).

     Coach Nduka Ugbade, who has kept his eyes on the ball and his hands on the plough for several weeks screening and training the lads at the FIFA Goal Project, Abuja, says his objective is to earn a ticket to the AFCON finals in Algeria.

     “I am happy with the squad that we have been able to come up with, and I can say confidently that we are going to Ghana to do the nation proud. Our primary objective is to earn a ticket to the Africa Cup of Nations, and then we go full throttle for the trophy. Nigeria have a pedigree in U17 football and we cannot afford to disappoint.”

     Ugbade, who captained the squad that won the first of Nigeria’s five world titles at this level, has picked 20 players for the campaign that will last until 24th June, with five more players on standby.

     The Golden Eaglets are in Group A of the competition, with a second match against Togo’s U17 boys on Tuesday next week, also at the Stade Cape Coast.

     

    GOLDEN EAGLETS FOR WAFU B U17 CHAMPIONSHIP IN CAPE COAST

     Goalkeepers: Richard Odoh, Hameed Balogun, Pascal Uzoho

     Defenders: Jeremiah Olaleke, Emmanuel Michael, Tochukwu Ogboji, Yahaya Lawal, Miracle Ogwor

     Midfielders: Basil Mbata, Ebube Okere, Tochukwu Ogbabido, Richard Uche, Ozor Okeke, Raphael Oyebanjo

     Forwards: Umar Abubakar, Kevwe Iyede, Light Eke, Abubakar Abdullahi, Jubril Azeez, Precious Williams

     Standby: Utibe Silas, Abdullahi Buhari, Abubakar Shaibu, Tijjani Mohammed, Stephen Emmanuel

     

  • BREAKING: Nigeria’s Golden Eaglets fight back to beat Ecuador

    BREAKING: Nigeria’s Golden Eaglets fight back to beat Ecuador

    Nigeria’s Golden Eaglets of have maintained their perfect start at the FIFA U-17 World Cup tournament ongoing in Brazil.

    The team continued their winning streak with a brilliant fightback against Ecuador in the second Group B match of the competition.

    Coach Manu Garba’s boys who came from behind to beat Hungary in their opening game of the tournament at the weekend had earlier blown their early lead in Tuesday’s outing against Ecuador.

    However, two quickfire goals from Ibrahim Said in the latter stages of the second half saw Nigeria winning the five-goal thriller.

    It was Nigeria that got the opening goal just five minutes into the game but the South Americans drew level barely five minutes after when the Golden Eaglets keeper, Daniel Jinadu, bundled the ball into his own net.

    While both teams had chances, the first half ended in a stalemate.

    READ ALSO: FIFA U17 World Cup : Nigeria’s Golden Eaglets overcome Hungary
    Ecuador had a dream start in the second half as they were awarded a penalty kick ten minutes after the restart.

    Charles Etim was adjudged to have committed a foul and Johan Mina converted the resultant kick for Ecuador.

    The Golden Eaglets pressed for an equaliser but it did not come as fast they would have wanted.

    However in the 85th and 89th minute, the man-of-the-match, Said, scored two superb goals that saw Nigeria triumph in the five-goal thriller.

    With the victory, the Golden Eaglets have secured qualification for the Round of 16 and well on course for an unprecedented 6th FIFA U17 World Cup title.