Eaglets have got the power!

I have been following the comments on several social media fronts over the past two weeks as the Eaglets underscored their pre-tournament rating by scoring 18 goals in four matches, beyond and above what any other team had done here.At the beginning of the competition, it was a straight fight between Nigeria and Brazil for […]

I have been following the comments on several social media fronts over the past two weeks as the Eaglets underscored their pre-tournament rating by scoring 18 goals in four matches, beyond and above what any other team had done here.
At the beginning of the competition, it was a straight fight between Nigeria and Brazil for the team that would win the championship a fourth time – a record. Having swept the stakes in 1985, 1993 and 2007 – all on Asian soil – the media and a large number of fans, advised by the intimidating record of the Eaglets in friendly matches, pre-tournament games and to an extent, their outing at the 2013 CAN U-17 Championship in Morocco, knew the Nigerians would be no push-over.
And Brazil and Nigeria kept neck-to-neck in the group phase, with the Eaglets scoring 14 goals to Brazil’s 15, to underline the rivalry and the unforgiving marksmanship of the two teams’ forwards. While nothing must be taken away from the Brazilians, perhaps both teams could have finished the group phase at par on Nigeria with a slight edge if not for injury to Eaglets’ top striker Success Isaac.
The loss of the youngster to hamstring injury in the first half of Nigeria’s 3-3 draw against Sweden has affected Nigeria’s game generally and the medical crew are sweating to see if he can make it back for the semi finals game on Tuesday, as the Eaglets are set to overcome Uruguay in today’s quarter final duel in Sharjah.
There have been a number of dark comments and innuendoes about the Eaglets, which is not entirely surprising given the nature of some of our people. When Nigerian teams do well at any international competition, there must be something, for them, that is not right. But I can assure you all that the Nigeria Football Federation is proud of its work and the boys we have been able to put together for this competition.
It is two years now since the appointments of Manu Garba (Head Coach), Emmanuel Amuneke (Assistant Coach), Nduka Ugbade (Assistant Coach) and Emeka Amadi (Goalkeepers’ Trainer), and a clear mandate for them to depart from the ways of old and put together an U-17 squad that Nigerians would be proud to call their team.
All over the country, it is acknowledged that the present crop remains the most credible set of U-17 National Team of Nigeria ever, and you can see it in the boys’ game and their faces and  comportment. Yet, those who are sold on a career of cynicism and lack faith in the Nigeria Project feels that something must be wrong.
The NFF conducted THREE different MRI tests for the players. The Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) test is the most modern technology available to determine the age of a youngster. World football-governing body adopted the technology and instructed its affiliates to conduct the tests ahead of major age-grade competitions. The NFF has fully complied.
We did the first round of tests for the boys that emerged from a screening programme that entertained over 5,000 kids in Abuja. The second round of tests came just before the boys went to the CAN U-17 Championship in Morocco, and another round of tests was conducted before players were selected for this World Cup.
The mentality of some persons is that if a Nigerian team is not over-aged, and is playing well, then something else must be wrong. While FIFA President, Mr. Joseph Sepp Blatter was applauding the Golden Eaglets and rating them good enough to win the competition in the United Arab Emirates, some of our own compatriots were sneezing and had their faces plastered with cynicism.
The Nigeria Football Federation is comfortable at the way Coach Manu Garba dealt with the insinuation by the Coach of Iran, after his boys were pummeled in the Round of 16 in Al Ain even without the Eaglets getting out of first gear. Sour grapes, I call it.
The Coach of United Arab Emirates was also murmuring something about other teams in Group A after his boys were hammered thoroughly in their group phase matches. Another case of sour grapes. It is important for people to show grace and character not only when they win, but also when they lose.

Four months ago, in Turkey, Uruguay proved the stumbling block for our U-20 National Team, Flying Eagles, at the FIFA U-20 World Cup finals. I believe that this time, vengeance will be exacted as the Golden Eaglets go for broke against the South Americans.
The Nigerian boys will not under-rate the Uruguayans, as Coach Manu Garba has assured the NFF that his team will take it one game at a time. Respect for the opposition but clinical efficiency once the match starts.
Compatriots, it would be such a delight to pick up the FIFA U-17 World Cup – setting a worldwide record in the process – only EIGHT DAYS before we formally pick up the ticket to the 2014 FIFA World Cup finals in Brazil!
Next Week: Well Done, League Management Company