The Golden Eaglets were warmly received on Wednesday night as the Nigerian national Under-17 team landed at the Cairo Airport aboard EGYPT AIR from Abuja.
The contingent of 25 players and nine officials, led by Alhaji Ahmad Muazu Kawu, a board member of the Nigeria Football Federation and Chairman of the Nigeria Nationwide League, arrived the ‘land of history’ at 7:20pm local time (8:20pm Nigerian time) and were met on arrival by officials of the Egyptian Football Association, led by Nadar Darwish of the Players’ Affairs Department.
Expectedly, the Golden Eaglets’ Head Coach, Emmanuel Amuneke, was an instant hit with the Cairo fans following his successful stint at Egypt’s top side, Zamalek FC, in the 1990s.
“Emmanuel! Emmanuel!!” shouted well-set security personnel who quickly offered a warm handshake. “It is great to see you again.”
Another excited Zamalek fan actually came in tow with his family to welcome Amuneke’s Eaglets, saying he was so happy to meet the 1994 African Footballer of the Year again.
“I hope this is Emmanuel, “said the enthusiastic guy who brought along his son for a photo shot. “I’m a great Zamalek fan and we cannot forget what Emmanuel did when he played for us and I want to wish you well.”
Similarly, Hassan El Shafey, a staunch Al Ahly fan and General Manager at Sheraton Dreamland Hotel and Conference Centre, was equally elated on seeing Amuneke during lunch time on Thursday.
Shafey said: “You were wicked to us when you were are playing for Zamalek but we love you dearly because you were such a great player. Emmanuel is half Egyptian!”
Trending
- Man in police net for allegedly beating wife to death in Lagos
- Omah Lay, four other Nigerians to headline at Forbes Under 30 Africa summit
- Court remands man, 45, over alleged indecent assault of four-year-old girl
- Abducted FirstNews Editor: Let’s protect free press, let’s protect our democracy against military misconduct – NUJ, NGE, IPI
- Man docked for allegedly stealing truck head valued N3m
- The Okuama Dead: Story behind the grief, by Azu Ishiekwene
- New study reveals only one in 10 global workers have in-demand AI skills
- Man, 27, arraigned for allegedly raping a 20-year-old woman