Chile 2015: Strike like thunder against Mali, Buhari tells U-17 highest goal scorer
…As President charges Golden Eaglets to victory
http://www.gatewaymail.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/11/President-Muhammadu-Buhari-on-skype-with-the-Golden-Eaglets-and-their-coach..jpg
NIGERIA: PRESIDENT Muhammadu Buhari on Saturday urged the Golden Eaglets to do all within their ambit to win the Under-17 World Cup for the fifth time.
The president specifically charged the highest goal scorer of the biennial soccer championship, Victor Osimhen, who has scored nine goals already, to “strike like thunder tomorrow (Sunday).”
It would be recalled that the Golden Eaglets won the maiden edition of the most junior World Cup in 1985 during the military regime of Gen. Muhammadu Buhari.
“For about 25 minutes on Saturday evening, President Muhammadu Buhari spoke with the Golden Eaglets and their officials, urging them to strive for victory tomorrow in the final of the Under-17 FIFA World Cup holding in Chile,” the Special Adviser to the President on Media and Publicity, Mr. Femi Adesina, said in a release.
“Nigeria first won the same tournament in China in 1985, when President Buhari was military head of state, and he urged the team to repeat the same feat tomorrow against Mali, to make it the fifth time Nigeria will win the trophy,” Adesina added.
According to him, the President spoke with the head coach, Emmanuel Amuneke, to congratulate him apparently on the victory so far, “and then said: ‘Your victory tomorrow will remind Nigerians of what happened in China 30 years ago, and it will raise the morale of Nigerians, especially the youths. We’re praying for you. We are anxiously waiting to receive the cup. Please put us on the world map of soccer again.”
Adesina also said: “Speaking to Udoh Akpan, the goalkeeper, President Buhari said he was a very strategic member of the team, noting: ‘If you don’t let in the goals, then none will be scored against us. We look forward to lifting the cup.”
To John Lazarus, a defender, the President said, ‘don’t allow anybody to penetrate the defense,’ while charging
Tobechukwu Ibe, another defender, to ‘rest well today, because a lot of Nigerians will be depending on you tomorrow.”
Adesina added: “To top striker, Victor Osimhen, who has scored 9 goals so far, President Buhari said: ‘Strike like thunder tomorrow. I believe you will bring us victory.”
According to the President’s spokesperson, Buhari charged the captain of the team, Kelechi Nwakali, to maintain his winning leadership, even as he tasked Joel Osikel, a midfielder, that he was “the jewel of the team,” and challenged him to contribute his quota towards victory.
“Apart from the 21 players and head coach, President Buhari also had encouraging words for other members of the technical team, the team doctor, physiotherapist, media officer, and other officials,” Adesina said.
He maintained: “Both Coach Amuneke and the team captain thanked President Buhari for his support, and promised not to let him and the country down.”
It would be recalled that the Nigerian young lads defeated Mexico four goals to two to face another African winner and reigning Under-17 African champion, Mali.
The Malian boys defeated Belgium by three goals to one to qualify for the all Africans final against their Nigerian counterparts for the most junior World Cup.
