Eaglets, NFF’s hope of soccer glory resurge

Eaglet's squad

When the senior national football team, Super Eagles opened camp in Calabar last Monday for the second leg of the Africa Cup of Nations qualifier against Lone Star of Liberia that was played yesterday at the UJ Esuene Stadium, there was another football national team that was also camped right there in Calabar.  

This was the Coach Manu Garba-tutored Golden Eaglets (the national U-17 team) which had already been camped in the Canaan City for several weeks. While the team’s presence appeared not to have received as much attention as that of the Eagles’ short stay, the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) and several other top stakeholders have admitted that the future belongs to this crop of young players that have, unknown to many Nigerians, been racking up impressive records.

The team, which has as part of its technical crew, former U-17 football prodigy, Nduka Ugbade, and one-time Eagles’ spectacular forward, Emmanuel Amuneke, has an astonishing record of 73 goals scored in the 16 matches it has played so far. These include local and international friendly matches and the two-legged first round matches against Junior Menas of Niger in the African Youth Championship qualifiers.

According to a statistical breakdown of the team’s performance since opening camp that was made available to the press by the Eaglet’s media spokesperson, Morakinyo Abodunrin, the team had earlier recorded 55 goals before getting 11 again in matches against amateur teams within Calabar and its environs. It beat also Junior Wasps of Rwanda 5-0 and 3-0 respectively in two international friendly matches before acquiring a 10-1 aggregate score line in its first round 2013 African qualifier against Niger. Statistically, the team has recorded a healthy goal margin of six goals per match.

When the goal-hungry Eaglets crushed Junior Menas in Niamey, even the opponents could not help but marvel at the mastery of the team.

“I think we played well over the two legs but we met a well-organised team,” Junior Menas’ coach, Soumaila Tiemogo said through an interpreter. “The Nigerian team simply outclassed us and I think there is nothing to be ashamed of because we were beaten by a very good team.” Suleymanu Kabirou, captain of the Nigerien team had this to say of the Nigerian lads after the first leg game in Niamey.

“We were shocked with the good handling of the ball by the Golden Eaglets. It was as if we were watching football on a Play Station machine.”

The astounding statistics, the strong determination of the team to really write its name in gold in Nigerian football history and the salutes the team got from even its opponents like Niger were what brought it to the notice of the NFF and other top stakeholders like Coach Stephen Keshi, who wants to watch it play against the Leopards of Guinea today in Calabar.

“Coach Stephen Keshi as well as other members of the coaching crew would be watching your game against Guinea on Sunday after ours against Liberia on Saturday,” Ben Alaiya, the Super Eagles’ media officer informed.

“We have heard and read so much about the Golden Eaglets and we want to see things for ourselves. “This is good for Nigerian football and hopefully some of these players would be able to play for the Super Eagles in the nearest future,” added Alaiya in a frank exchange with an official of the Golden Eaglets.

Even Super Eagles’ psychologist, Dr. Robinson Okosun, has admitted that he is impressed with the positive vibes emanating from the camp of the Golden Eaglets. The team has also filled a soft spot in the heart of the governor of Cross River State, Liyel Imoke, who is its number one supporter in Calabar.

So, when the team files out against the Guineans today, it is with the confidence that even though it is presently playing ‘developmental’ or ‘low cadre’ football as people often call it, everybody is watching because the future of Nigerian football lies with it.

This is because the constant complaints about the diminishing strength of the Super Eagles and the clarion calls for a new team that is built from scratch through the grassroots, it appears, has had the NFF’s top hierarchy looking to a brighter future for the senior national team; a future in which the present crop of Eaglets players play a very great role.

However, in spite of all the statistics and the attendant accolades his team has been receiving, Coach Garba is not losing his focus. He and the coaching crew want nothing short of a resounding victory against the Leopards of Guinea at the UJ Esuene Stadium in Calabar today. Garba has therefore charged the players to pound the Guineans with everything they have got so that the second leg in Conakry, Guinean capital, would only be mere formality.

“The game we played last Saturday was okay but I believe we should have done better given the fact that we created so many opportunities,” said the one-time captain of El-Kanemi Football Club of Maiduguri in statement made available to the media by the team’s media spokesperson.

“We created about 12 chances but we were able to score just four goals and you would agree with me that this is even below your usual standard.”

He equally reminded the players that winning with a handsome goal margin against Guinea is the only way the team can avoid elimination.  

“What we want from you against Guinea is to occupy and take possession of the field, “he noted. “We want as many goals as possible because this is what we have been noted for. “We don’t want to concede any goal at home so that the job would be easier when we go for the return leg match in Conakry,” he added.

Soccer fans should therefore look forward to a great match today in Calabar. The Guineans have always been tough customers at any soccer level but with impressive records and a spirited group of teenagers with sights set on being the future of Nigerian football, the Eaglets would without a doubt provide great sparks against the Guineans.