The ongoing FIFA U-17 World Cup in United Arab Emirates (UAE), may have brought to the fore the soccer prowess of Africa's most populous black nation, Nigeria, in youth football, even as some soccer fans still have their reservations about the current squad.
As a kicker, the present team is made of determined youngsters who are desperate to write their names in gold, as they attempt to win the trophy for a record fourth time. Since the kick-off of the tournament in 1985 in far away Beijing, China, Nigeria has won the trophy thrice.
And it is worthy to note that all the victories were accomplished just in one continent, Asia, thus giving hope to many pundits that the case of winning the trophy in UAE may not be an exception since it is another Asian country. As noted earlier, Nigeria's team featured in the maiden FIFA/Kodak U-16 tourney in 1985, in China and to the shock and admiration of soccer fans worldwide, the team lifted the trophy. HT also discovered that strength, skill and a willingness to attack were the three main ingredients in that Nduka Ugbade- captained squad.
They proved too superior in just about all facets of the game as they coasted through the first round with a 1-0 victory over Italy, a 3-0 win against Costa Rica and a draw with Saudi Arabia, then stepped up a gear to brush aside Hungary (3-1) in the quarter-finals. They came back down to earth against Guinea, but scraped through on penalties (4-2), before triumphing 2-0 over West Germany in the Final.
Indeed, it was one victory too many, as it paved way for more victorious outings for future Golden Eaglets squads. The team that benefited most from the inspiration of the 1985 all-conquering Eaglets was the Japan '93 squad which was captained by Nigeria's most decorated footballer of all-time, Nwankwo Kanu. The team overcame Ghana in the Final of the 1993 FIFA U-17 World Cup.
The Golden Eaglets stood out from start to finish with their outstanding physique, impeccable sense of organisation and progressive tactics combining to make them the most feared team in the tournament.
With Wilson Oruma (top scorer in the competition), Kanu, Peter Anosike, Ibrahim Babangida and Celestine Babayaro in the team, they worked tirelessly as one entity to cage all opposition. Nigeria's 8-0 thrashing of poor Canada at the start of the proceedings set the tone; South American giants, Argentina, hardly fared much better, going down 4-0, and then it was the turn of Australia (2-0), Japan (2-1) and Poland (2-1).
Ghana were the last hurdle, and a 2-1 win in the Final was enough to send the Golden Eaglets flying home with the coveted trophy safely in their grasp. Indeed the Ghanaians bowed to the fire-power of allconquering Nigeria junior team.
In 2007 in South Korea, another set of the Golden Eaglets were on the prowl under the tutelage of Coach Yemi Tella. The Nigerian team appeared potential candidates for the main prize right from the beginning, and were certainly not lacking in confidence.
"We'll take the trophy back to Nigeria," announced Tella, and those words seemed more than a little prophetic now. France, Japan, Haiti, Colombia, Argentina and Germany all fell by the wayside, unable to cope with tireless captain Lukman Haruna in midfield, technicallysuperb duo, Rabiu Ibrahim and King Osanga and goal poacher, Macauley Chrisantus.
In the final match against Spain, the fearless Golden Eaglets proved that they were also rock solid at the rear. And while it was their attackers who took most of the plaudits in the earlier rounds, it was goalkeeper Oladele Ajiboye (fondly called Aji Boy) who emerged as the hero when it mattered most, following 120 minutes of goalless football and a penalty shoot-out.
Asier Illarramendi missed the target altogether, but Ajiboye denied both Fran Merida and Iago, which meant successful attempts from Matthew Edile, Daniel Joshua and Ganiyu Oseni earned Nigeria her third title to equal Brazil's record in the tournament. From the foregoing, it is clear that the present Eaglets are under intense pressure to make Nigerians proud in UAE by lifting the trophy for the record fourth time.
More so, it is expected that the team will benefit a lot from the experience of a Trojan of the tournament and captain of the victorious '85 team, Ugbade, who is currently one of the assistant coaches with the team.
But the question on the lips of every Nigerian is whether the current Eaglets are truly golden? Can the team actually replicate the zeal and enthusiasm of the past victorious Golden Eaglets and win the trophy in UAE?
Does the current squad possess the champion spirit expected from a truly Nigerian youth team? Only few prophets in this part of the world can hazard a guess! However, one would be tempted to think that all these are just mere bravado and bluster especially from Coach Manu Garba who strongly believes that the team has every potential to excel at the ongoing FIFA U-17 World Cup in UAE.
Even when he dropped Theophilus Solomon, a young striker dubbed the 'Nigerian Ronaldo' by the local media, due to a slight injury, his confidence in the remaining crop of players remained unshakeable.
"I don't see any defence that can stop us," he said, citing an 11-0 win over Spanish club Espanyol's youth academy team prior to the U-17 World Cup. "We know a World Cup is a different story, but, man, my attack is blistering. They can destroy any team on their day."
Therefore, as the Eaglets file out against Uruguay today in Sharjah, Nigerians from all walks of life are expected to be behind the team in prayers. HT wants to remind them that as Golden Eaglets, they should play and behave as one by winning the ultimate prize. Not even Uruguay should dent their record in this quest, if truly they are golden!