The Minister of Sports and the Chairman of the National Sports Commission, Mallam Bolaji Abdullahi, is expected in Dubai, United Arab Emirates on Monday morning with a message of encouragement for the Golden Eaglets team from President Goodluck Jonathan.
Several other top functionaries, captains of industry and dignitaries are also expected to storm the Gulf State.
Nigeria’s youngsters are truly thrilling all at the FIFA U-17 World Cup finals in the United Arab Emirates and semi final opponents Sweden have a mountain to climb when both teams clash at the Rashid Stadium on Tuesday.
Meanwhile, the Chairman of the NFF Technical Committee, Barrister Chris Green; members of the NFF Executive Committee, Chief Felix Anyansi-Agwu and Alhaji Ahmad Kawu; the Director of Technical, Dr. Emmanuel Ikpeme; the Director of Competitions, Dr. Mohammed Sanusi; the Assistant Director (Media), Ademola Olajire; the Head of International Competitions, Bola Oyeyode; and a handful of state FA chairmen and secretaries were ecstatic at the team’s performance so far in the competition.
Former Super Eagles’ captain, Sunday Oliseh, beamed in delight as did Victor Ikpeba, a member of the NFF Technical Committee who played at the 1989 tournament, before his glorious exploits with the Super Eagles.
Sweden stretched the Eaglets remarkably in the group phase before both teams shared the spoils in a six-goal thriller. But the indices are different for Tuesday.
The Rashid Stadium in Dubai will be packed to its rafters by chanting, drumming and dancing Nigerians, as members of the Nigeria Football Supporters Club are joined by Nigeria’s sizable population in the United Arab Emirates.
Nigeria has never lost a FIFA U-17 World Cup semi final and boast a great record against European sides since the tournament was launched 28 years ago.
In all her 10 participations, Nigeria has only failed to reach the knock-out stage only once before and that was even through the boardroom – Austin Eguavoen’s Class of 2003 wickedly eliminated by the toss of coin after ending up on same number of points, goals for, goals against and head-to-head with Costa Rica in Finland.
In 1989, the Eaglets were eliminated after penalty shootout in the quarter final stage in Dundee by eventual winners, Saudi Arabia.
And in 1995, Oman, which finished in fourth place and produced the Player of the Tournament, prevailed 2-1 over Nigeria in the last eight in Portojievo.
Three wins and three silver medals are the haul from the other six championships.
Those heavy on superstition remember that Nigeria have won all three previous titles on Asian soil (as is UAE), and that on the way to winning in Korea Republic six years ago, the Eaglets beat a South American nation (Argentina) 2-0 in the quarter finals, as they have done in UAE against Uruguay, another South American country.
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