Golden Eaglets qualify for World Cup

Nigeria has qualified for the semi-finals stage of the 2013 Morocco CAN Under-17 and an automatic berth at the 2013 FIFA U-17 World Cup in the United Arab Emirates, following a comprehensive 7-0 whitewash of Congo Brazzaville.
Success Isaac and Kelechi scored a brace each to give the Golden Eaglets a 4-0 first half lead.
Ifeanyi Matthew, Musa Yahaya and Iheanacho added three more goals in the second half the last to give Nigeria a well-deserved win.
The victory leapfrogged Nigeria to the top of Group B with six points after Cote d’Ivoire and Ghana played a goalless draw in the other game in Casablanca as they finished on five and two points respectively.
Congo came fourth on two points.
Speaking at the post match conference, Coach Manu Garba saluted the courage of the players to bounce back swiftly after their shock 0-1 loss to Cote d’Ivoire on Wednesday, adding that the focus now is on the semi-final game against Tunisia on Wednesday.
“We are happy that we have eventually qualified for the World Cup because that was our first priority at this championship and we thank God that we have achieved that,” Garba, a 2007 World cup winner said.
Nigeria will now face Tunisia in the semis while hosts Morocco and Cote d’Ivoire would play the first semis on Tuesday.
Garba said: “We are happy that we eventually topped a tough group that had three strong West African teams and Congo.
“But we have put this victory over Congo behind us as we forge ahead for the crucial stages of the championship.”
Also at the post match conference, Vice Captain Success Isaac, who now leads the tournament’s scorers chat with six goals, noted that it was the collective achievement of the team that is the most important.
“The success today goes to the team, the players and the coaching crew because we are a collective group,” he said. “Our coaches told us how to approach the match against Congo and we thank God that we were able to follow their instructions. We are looking forward to the game against Tunisia on Wednesday.”
Meanwhile, at the stands to witness the Golden Eaglets’ qualification for the FIFA U-17 World Cup for the10th time were the President of the Nigeria Football Federation, Alhaji Aminu Maigari; board member and Chairman, Referees’ Committee, Alhaji Suleiman Muazu; Hon. Dalhatu Sidi Mamman, Sokoto State’s Commissioner for Sport; Dr. Mohammed Sanusi, NFF’s Director of Competitions; and pockets of Nigerian fans who were mobilized by the Nigeria Embassy in Morocco.