Morocco 2013: Golden Eaglets Hit Lagos Sunday

Golden Eaglets

The National Under-17 team, the Golden Eaglets, are due back in Nigeria on Sunday after undergoing a training stint at the Aspire Academy for Sports Excellence in Doha, the capital of oil-rich gulf state of Qatar.

A team of 30 players and officials including Dr. Emmanuel Ikpeme,
Director Technical at the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF), will depart for Lagos aboard Qatar Airways and would expectedly arrive Lagos about midday.

The team will travel to Morocco later in the week to participate in the 10th edition of the CAN Under-17.

During their stay in Doha, the Golden Eaglets won two quality friendly matches by beating Aspire’s Under 18 team 7-1 in a one sided affair cynically described by a local fan as the clash between a
Ferrari and Peugeot!

They equally gave a good account of themselves by recording a 1-0 win over former Asian Champions, Al Sadd Sports Club complete with former Spanish star, Raul Gonzalez.

Head coach, Manu Garba (MFR) described tour of Doha as delightful and
successful, adding that the team is battle-ready for the continental
cadet competition.

“We are so grateful to the NFF for organising this training tour for us,” Garba said in a valedictory speech on Aspires’ Pitch 5.

“Coming here has given us the opportunity to prepare well for the forthcoming competition. We are ready even if they say we should start the
championship today.

“We are focussed about of our objective to qualify for the FIFA Under-17 World Cup in UAE as African champions and we want to come back to Aspire to prepare for the World Cup,” he explained.

Meanwhile, Dr. Ikpeme who joined the team last Monday has commended the exemplary conduct of both the players and officials during their almost one-month stay in Doha.

“The NFF as well as Nigerians are happy with this team because you are focussed and disciplined,” he said. “You have conducted yourselves very well here and we want you to go to Lagos en route to Morocco with the same attitude.”

Ikpeme, a seasoned sports psychologist noted that the players must gird their loins as they prepare to face the rest of the continent, saying that their results during the qualifiers have heightened expectations amongst Nigerians.