Eaglets shine in six-goal thriller
NIGERIA'S U-17 team,Golden Eaglets on Saturday yet again showed their strength in depth by forcing Jay-1 Football Academy to a 3-3 draw at the NFF\FIFA Goal Project pitch in Abuja.
The Abuja-based academy under coach Chekwas Obinna, gave the Emmanuel Amuneke-led side a run for their money but surrendered a rare 3-1 lead following second half goals by Emmanuel Robert, Samuel Gero and Emmanuel Justin.
In between, Tunde Azeez who is one of the new lads fielded by Amuneke, grabbed his first for Eaglets but it was there for all to see that the new recruits still have more work to do in order to break into the Chile 2015 World Cup-bound squad.
With defeat starring the team in the face, Amuneke brought in experienced captain Kelechi Nwakali; Striker Victor Osimhen and Nduka Ebere and those substitutions barely 20 minutes to the end of regulation time, proved fortuitous against the now wearied opponents.
Gangling Osimhen pulled a goal back for the Eaglets in the 72 minutes and Nduka had the last word with the best of the match when he struck within seconds to spare.
An impressed Udeh saluted the fighting spirit of the Golden Eaglets, explaining the match had the trappings of a cup final:" This was a match we thought we had won but the Golden Eaglets showed they are the more experienced side and I really want to commend them for not giving up even after we took the lead."