Makanjuola reunites with Chelsea colleagues

ByEsther Egbe

The Dinat Resort Hotel provided a perfect melting point for Golden
Eaglets' Habib Makanjuola to reunite with his Chelsea's teammates who
are with Sweden at this 2013 UAE FIFA Under-17 World Cup.

Sweden, Golden Eaglets' First Round opponents, are in this tournament
for the first time, and in their tow is Isak Ssewankambo, a
ball-winning central midfielder at Chelsea. Also on their list is
another Chelsea-bound defender, Ali Suljic - currently with Motala
AIF, who plays in the Ostergotland regional league in the Swedish
third division.

 It was a case of familiar foes when the trio met in a fleeting moment
at the Dinat Resort Hotel lobby to exchange greetings and banters
ahead of their crucial First Round game in Al-Ain on October 22.
"It was great meeting them here," Makanjuola said afterwards. "Coming
for this tournament is good for our progress since it offers us the
chance to show what we can do."

Makanjuola described both players as very good but he has no doubt in
his mind about the chances of the Golden Eaglets against Sweden after
their scheduled first match of the tournament. While Nigeria tackles
Mexico on Saturday, Sweden will take on fellow debutante, Iraq in the
second game of Group F.

 The Golden Eaglets continued their build up against Mexico with
training at Al-Ain University on Thursday at 7:30pm local time- after
Coach Garba was done with the mandatory's face-to-face media
session ahead of Saturday's opener.
 
Abu Dhabi Crown Prince rallies support for Nigeria
 Determined to make the 2013 UAE FIFA Under-17 World Cup a spectacle,
the Local Organising Committee (LOC) in Al-Ain has been given the
carte-blanche to bring as many fans as possible to watch the matches
here.

Al-Ain, the host city of   teams in Group F comprising Nigeria,
Sweden, Mexico and Iraq; is under the Abu Dhabi Emirate and the LOC
here has reportedly enjoyed the support of  His Highness, Mohammed bin
Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan -the Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and deputy
supreme commander of the UAE Armed Forces.

This much was disclosed by the Al-Ain LOC Venue manager, Ahmed
Woldghamail  even as he  revealed that the organizers  would be
providing  not less than 10 buses to convey Nigerian fans
particularly from Dubai  to watch  the  all important Group F opening
match between Nigeria  and Mexico  on Saturday.

"We want to have as many fans as possible   in the stadium for all the
matches and we are making arrangements to bring Nigerian fans who are
many in Dubai to come and watch the Golden Eaglets and we have the
blessings of the Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi," said the amiable Ahmed, a
retired referee who has been a frequent traveler to Nigeria since
1998.

 The LOC arrangement is aside the arrangement being made by the
Nigeria's Embassy in Abu Dhabi to bring as many as possible Nigerians
to the stadium on Saturday.

In a related development, Nigeria's Team Liaison Officer, Mr.  Seth
Amoafo, a Ghanaian, is hopeful that the Black Stars' 6-1 thrashing of
Egypt in Tuesday's 2014 World Cup qualifier is a good omen for
Nigeria.

Amoafo has been of valuable assistance to the Golden Eaglets and he
brings so much passion to his job alongside his colleague from the
LOC, Mr. Almahmoud Humaid.

Maigari salutes ‘high-flying Golden Eaglets’

 

President of the Nigeria Football Federation, Alhaji Aminu Maigari has

commended the efficiency of the U-17 National Team, also known as

Golden Eaglets, in their 6-1 demolition of world champions Mexico at

the FIFA U-17 World Cup finals, in Al Ain City on Saturday.

 

In their first match of Nigeria’s 10th appearance in the world cadet

tourney, the wards of Manu Garba produced a near-flawless performance

to easily consign the Cup holders to abject humiliation in the United

Arab Emirates.

 

Maigari said: “I am thrilled, and I must say that indeed, these boys

have done our country proud. A week ago, we got a firm leg into the

2014 FIFA World Cup finals when the Super Eagles won in Ethiopia. Now

our boys are looking very, very good at the U-17 World Cup. Surely,

our football is on the positive rebound.

 

“However, I want to tell the high-flying Golden Eaglets to see this as

the beginning. They still have six matches more to win to lift the

trophy, and that is our target.

 

“They have started very well and the players and their coaches deserve

our applause for this one.”

 

In 14 previous editions of the tournament, Nigeria holds the best

record of three wins and three runner-up positions, and the Eaglets

thickly underscored that pedigree with an awesome performance at the

Khalifa Bin Zayed Stadium.

 

One of the team’s most potent marksmen, Kelechi Iheanacho, a product

of the much-applauded NFF U-13 programme, produced a stunning show

with four goals, as the Cup holders looked anything but world-class

beside the outstanding Africans.

 

Success Isaac, top scorer at the African U-17 Championship in Morocco

in April, also got on the scoresheet with the versatile Chidiebere

Nwakali accounting for the other.

 

The Eaglets next play Sweden, also in Al Ain City, on Tuesday.