Caf president, Issa Hayatou, has thrown his weight behind Nigeria's Under-17 national team ahead of Tuesday's semifinal with Sweden at the Fifa Under-17 World Cup in the United Arab Emirates.
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Hayatou visited the Nigerians on Monday in Dubai and was accompanied by CAF 1st vice president, Almamy Kabele Camara and Fifa Executive Committee member, Mohamed Raouraoua.
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He commended the players for the "high level of skill and intelligence" displayed so far at the tournament stressing that such had not been seen in an African side for a long time.
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"You have displayed a high level of skill and intelligence in this tournament that we have not seen in an African team for a long time. I am not surprised at your progress here because I saw you at the CAN Under-17 Championship in Morocco and I was highly impressed," Hayatou said.
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The Caf chief then took the time to praise the Nigerian youngsters for the manner in which they dispatched South American giants, Uruguay in the quarterfinal of the competition.
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"I am particularly excited with your performance against Uruguay, despite missing a number of injured players. I believe you are already in the final.
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"The African football family is fully behind you," Hayatou said.
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Nigeria have won the tournament three times previously but Hayatou stressed on the importance of the current class of Golden Eaglets to complete the quartet of successes in the UAE.
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"Yes, Nigeria has won the competition three times before, but that was done by other players. Now, it is your opportunity to write your own names in gold. I believe you have the talent, intelligence and resilience to go all the way," he said.