February 25, 2015 – The Nigeria Football Federation(NFF) has commended the U-17 national team, Golden Eaglets, for earning a place at the FIFA U-17 World Cup finals taking place in Chile later in the year.
The Eaglets lost 1- 0 to South Africa this evening but the scoreline was good enough for a place in the FIFA U-17 World Cup.
NFF President, Amaju Melvin Pinnick declared on Wednesday that semi final defeat to South Africa at the African U-17 Championship in Niger Republic has not diminished the value of the Eaglets’ accomplishment.
“Certainly, every Nigerian yearned for the Eaglets to win the African championship trophy in Niger after the boys reached the semi finals. They lost by a lone goal but we cannot accuse the players of lack of effort.
“The present NFF administration has continued to harp on the fact that it is not only concerned with winning trophies. We want to win trophies but more than that, we want to build a sustainable football culture.”
Pinnick assured that the boys will not be treated like outcasts following the failure to reach the Championship final.
“The NFF will send a jet to pick the players after the third place match on Sunday. The technical crew remains intact and the NFF will give support to them to plug the necessary holes in the team so that we will have a squad capable of doing the nation proud in Chile.”
The NFF President also noted that Cup holders Cote d’Ivoire were eliminated in the group phase of the championship in Niger.
