CAF President Issa Hayatou has paid glowing tribute to the two teams, Mali and Nigeria on their impressive performances at the FIFA U-17 tournament taking place in Chile.
Both teams go head-to-head in Sunday's final with Nigeria looking set to win a 5th cadet title.
Naijasportsxtra.blogspot gathered from a statement on Friday from Cairo: “There are times when words cannot express the feeling, and I think this is one of such moments. On my behalf, and that of the CAF Executive Committee, I congratulate the young players from Mali and Nigeria who have offered us moments of indescribable joy”, said Hayatou, who has been carefully observing the proceedings of the tournament.
“The results and performances of the two teams in the competition have left, in the opinion of many, much to be desired. But we had to realize the promise of the flowers and the young did so masterfully for the happiness of all the great African football family and the continent.
“I am pleased that these results are obtained with essentially local technical persons, a testament to the quality and potential of African coaches. This reinforces the densification of our licensing program for coaches and multiplying opportunities for capacity building of African coaches,” assured Hayatou, also currently Acting FIFA President.
For the final, Hayatou wants the Mali and Nigeria to continue to show the world “their technical skills and strength of character” that they have been recognised with.
