Sports
Profiles Of The Glory-Chasing Golden Eaglets
John Obuh has chosen 21 players to attempt to retain the Fifa Under-17 World Cup trophy for Nigeria, starting today in Abuja.
Here is a pen pix of all 21 glory hunters for the Golden Eaglets.
PLAYER PROFILES
NAME: Dami Danjuma PAUL
DATE OF BIRTH: 18/12/1992
CLUB: OUSFORD ACADEMY (NIGERIA)
First choice goalkeeper who showed great poise and agility all through the preparation period.
NAME: Aigbe OLIHA
DATE OF BIRTH: 11/02/1993
CLUB: IGBINO BABES FC (NIGERIA)
Defender with great concentration and ability.
NAME: Mohammed Goyi ALIYU
DATE OF BIRTH: 12/02/1993
CLUB: NIGER TORNADOES FC (NIGERIA)
Lanky defender who has flair for joining the attack.
NAME: Ogenyi Eddy ONAZI
DATE OF BIRTH: 25/12/1992
CLUB: MY PEOPLE FC (NIGERIA)
Talented midfielder who hails from Benue State in the North Central region. Attended Township Primary School, Jos.
NAME: Fortune CHUKWUDI
DATE OF BIRTH: 18/11/1992
CLUB: A & B ACADEMY (NIGERIA)
Team captain who defends with resolution. From Mbatoli Local Council of Imo State.
NAME: Kenneth Josiah OMERUO
DATE OF BIRTH: 17/10/1993
CLUB: HARD FOUNDATION (NIGERIA)
Lion –hearted defender who attended LEA Primary School, Jabi and hails from Ikwuano Local Council of Abia State.
NAME: White George AGWUOCHA
DATE OF BIRTH: 13/01/1993
CLUB: KWARA UNITED FC (NIGERIA)
One of few players in the Nigeria team who has experience from playing in the top division. Midfielder with vision and plenty of action.
NAME: Stanley Osaretin OKORO
DATE OF BIRTH: 08/12/1992
CLUB: HEARTLAND FC (NIGERIA)
Nicknamed ‘Little Messi’, another highly –experienced performer, who at his young age was instrumental to Heartland FC of Owerri’s qualification for the prestigious CAF Champions League final.
NAME: Abdul Jeleel AJAGUN
DATE OF BIRTH: 10/02/1993
CLUB: DOLPHIN FC (NIGERIA)
Discovered during the annual Shell Cup competition, Ajagun is on the books of Premier League returnees Dolphin FC of Port Harcourt. Visionary midfielder with a good shot.
NAME: Olanrewaju Ayobami KAYODE
DATE OF BIRTH: 08/05/1993
CLUB: MARVELLOUS FC (NIGERIA)
Bustling striker who hails from Odo-Owa Local Council of Ekiti State. A fighter in the attack
NAME: Terry ENVOH
DATE OF BIRTH: 12/12/1992
CLUB: MIGHTY JETS FC (NIGERIA)
Has useful experience from playing for the crowd –pulling Jos team, which used to be in the top division. Envoh is one of the players being looked upon to deliver this championship to Nigeria.
NAME: Chukwujike MGBAM
DATE OF BIRTH: 22/04/1992
CLUB: STANDARD FC ACADEMY (NIGERIA)
Another lion –hearted defender who attended God’s Favour International School and is from Abia State
NAME: Omoh OJABU
DATE OF BIRTH: 14/12/1992
CLUB: DOLPHIN FC (NIGERIA)
Ajagun’s team –mate at Dolphin FC. Powerful shooter who scored five in the 14-1 demolition of Qatari Sports Club in a friendly in Doha.
NAME: Sani Shehu EMMANUEL
DATE OF BIRTH: 23/12/1992
CLUB: MY PEOPLE FC (NIGERIA)
Attacking midfielder who also loves to defend. Like Ojabu, hails from Etsako Local Council of Edo State
NAME: Yusuf Olaitan OTUBANJO
DATE OF BIRTH: 12/09/1992
CLUB: EMMANUEL AMUNIKE ACADEMY (NIGERIA)
Supporting striker who attended Solan Primary School and is from Ijebu-Ode area of Ogun State.
NAME: Amos Ossai IZUCHUKWU
DATE OF BIRTH: 09/12/1993
CLUB: TEAM LAGOS (NIGERIA)
One of the goalkeepers, who also showed great agility during preparation.
NAME: Obinna Emmanuel OKORO
DATE OF BIRTH: 30/12/1992
CLUB: YOUNG STARS FC (NIGERIA)
Defensive midfielder with great skill and audacity. He hails from Onicha Local Council of Ebonyi State, and attended Town School, Emene.
NAME: Edafe EGBEDI
DATE OF BIRTH: 05/08/1993
CLUB: BISALLO FC (NIGERIA)
Fast–paced winger who is one of Coach Obuh’s aces.
NAME: Deji Mayowa JOEL
DATE OF BIRTH: 23/11/1992
CLUB: ECO ACADEMY (NIGERIA)
Good midfielder who distributes well. From Ifelodun Local Council of Kwara State.
NAME: Ramon Olamilekan AZEEZ
DATE OF BIRTH: 12/12/1992
CLUB: FUTURE PRO ACADEMY (NIGERIA)
Another talented midfielder, from Iwajowa Local Council of Oyo State.
NAME: John FELAGHA
DATE OF BIRTH: 27/07/1994
CLUB: ASPIRE ACADEMY (QATAR)
Young John Felagha attended Kpansia Secondary School, Yenagoa and was discovered by Moses Aduku, then made the cut to be taken to the world–renowned Aspire Academy, Doha after the Nigeria finals in 2007. He joined the Nigeria team when they went for their final preparation camp at Aspire in October.
THE TECHNICAL CREW
HEAD COACH: Sam John OBUH
ASSISTANT COACH 1: Monday ODIGIE
ASSISTANT COACH 2: Abimbola SAMUEL
GOALKEEPERS’ TRAINER: Suleiman SHUAIBU
TEAM DOCTOR: Charles AGADU
TEAM PHYSIOTHERAPIST: Ejike Victor ONYEMEANU
TEAM COORDINATOR: Garba LAWAL
TEAM SECRETARY: Sirajo HASSAN
EQUIPMENT MANAGER: Shehu ADO
CAMP COMMANDANT: Oriola MICHAEL
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However, Richarlison halved the deficit just before half-time when he stopped a shot by Mohammed Kudus before slotting in.
Spurs dominated the second half but their finishing let them down as Richarlison and substitute Xavi Simons were both unable to make the most of promising opportunities.
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That broke Hoffenheim’s resistance and Kane completed his ninth Bundesliga hat-trick with another penalty, given for a foul on substitute Michael Olise after a video assistant referee (VAR) check.
This time Kane sent home keeper Oliver Baumann the wrong way for his 13th Bayern goal in seven matches across all competitions this season, adding to his Champions League double against Chelsea last Wednesday.
“Hat-trick Harry is what they called me in school,” Kane told Tidesports source after the match. “That one kind of stuck when I was younger.”
“Any ball in the box, whether penalty or not, I back myself to hit the target.”
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They eventually got some reward for their efforts, former West Ham full-back Vladimir Coufal’s deflected free-kick beating Neuer to earn the Czech his first goal for the club.
Ex-Liverpool winger Luis Diaz hit the top of the bar late on as he failed to continue his record of scoring in every Bundesliga game this season, but Serge Gnabry added a fourth for Bayern with the last kick, converting a rebound from a tight angle after Baumann saved from Joshua Kimmich.
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In Italy, Lorenzo Pellegrini fired Roma into the Serie A top four as Lazio had two players sent off in a fiery derby.
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Lazio have lost three of their opening games of the season and had Reda Belahyane and former Arsenal midfielder Matteo Guendouzi dismissed in late drama.
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Zidane qualifies for the North African country through his father, whose parents hailed from the Kabylie region of Algeria.
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