The final match of the 2013 FIFA Under-17 World Cup tourney takes place today in Dubai, United Arab Emirates (UAE) and the Golden Eaglets of Nigeria are part of it. Millions of Nigerians have followed the competition since Match Day One and the nation has been entertained by the performance of the Nigerian lads so far.
As the Golden
Eaglets square up to the Mexican Under-17 team in today’s final match,
Nigerians expect nothing less than victory and the trophy at stake. Considering
the country’s track record in this competition and the current squad’s
performance, the nation’s hope for triumph today is well placed. Nigeria has
won the cup a record three times and has played in the competition and the
final match more than any other country since the first tournament in China, in
1985. Also, the performance of the current crop of the Golden Eaglets has been
sterling, much like that of their victorious predecessors.
In the group phase of
this tournament, the Golden Eaglets walloped Mexico, the defending champions
6-1, played a 3-3 draw against Sweden and thereafter defeated Iraq 5-0.
In the knockout stage, the Golden Eaglets met their Iranian counterparts and
triumphed 4-1. Thereafter, the Golden Eaglets beat Uruguay 2-0 in the
quarterfinals and confirmed their superiority over the Swedes with a 3-0 win in
their second meeting in the semi-final stage, to qualify for today’s final.
Victory in today’s match will be the well-deserved icing on the cake for the
Golden Eaglets’ excellent showing in the tournament, and cheery news for the
country in these trying times.
On paper, the Golden
Eaglets appear to have an edge over the Mexicans, having trounced the defending
champions in the group stage of this championship. However, football does not
always conform to such logic. We, therefore, urge the Golden Eaglets to put
that initial victory over the Mexicans behind them and give today’s match all
the hard work and seriousness it deserves. On no account must they underrate
their opponents and no department of the game should be left to chance.
While not putting the
young lads under any undue pressure, the Manu Garba-led coaching crew needs to
impress the importance of the task at hand today on the minds of the Golden
Eaglets and fire them up to victory. We want the Golden Eaglets to know that
the whole country is behind them as they file out for today’s final match, and
wish them victory over their opponents.
We also admonish the
whole nation, especially the supporters club there in Dubai, to give the boys
the necessary moral and spiritual boost they need to deliver on their promise
of lifting the cup today.
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