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Profiles Of The Glory-Chasing Golden Eaglets

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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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Tottenham’s Miserable Run Continues  

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Relegation-threatened Tottenham’s miserable 2026 continued as their winless run extended to 10 league games with Fulham gaining a deserved victory to boost their hopes of qualifying for European football.

Fulham, who scored twice in the opening six minutes in their 2-1 win over Spurs in November, again got an early goal with Harry Wilson netting in the seventh minute.

However, the goal was controversial as new Spurs boss Igor Tudor felt it should have been disallowed as home striker Raul Jimenez pushed Radu Dragusin as they challenged for a Kenny Tete cross, before Oscar Bobb picked out Wilson to volley home from six yards out.

Tottenham had a similar goal ruled out last week in their 4-1 loss to Arsenal for a foul by Randal Kolo Muani on Gunners defender Gabriel but, following a check from the video assistant referee (VAR) Craig Pawson, Fulham’s goal was allowed to stand, much to Tudor’s fury.

Spurs, though, had no excuses for the 34th-minute second goal with Alex Iwobi left with space to shoot home superbly from 18 yards out, with the ball going in off the inside of the post after a neat exchange with Wilson.

 

 

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City Survive Leeds’ Challenge At Elland Road 

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Antoine Semenyo scored just before half-time as title-chasing Manchester City escaped Elland Road with victory over an energetic Leeds United.

The hard-earned outcome narrowed Arsenal’s lead to two points at the top of the Premier League.

City travelled to West Yorkshire without their Leeds-born star striker Erling Haaland who was injured in training, and it looked for large periods in the first half that they would rue not having their top goalscorer available.

But Ghana international Semenyo stretched to convert Rayan Ait-Nouri’s fizzed low ball into the penalty area for his sixth City goal since joining from Bournemouth in January.

Leeds will be wondering how they did not score after making a sprightly start and giving City real cause for early concern.

Meanwhile , a clinical Liverpool performance helped them beat battling West Ham in the Premier League and move level on points with fourth-placed Manchester United.

The hosts were 3-0 up at the break thanks to goals from Hugo Ekitike, Virgil van Dijk and Alexis Mac Allister.

West Ham pulled one back early in the second half through Tomas Soucek before Cody Gakpo restored Liverpool’s three-goal lead in the 70th minute.

Nuno Espirito Santo’s side scored again through Taty Castellanos, but an Axel Disasi own goal ensured Liverpool hit five goals in a league game for the first time this season.

Bayern Rebound To Overcome Dortmund In Bundesliga (5)

Harry Kane scored two second-half goals as Bayern Munich came from behind to beat Borussia Dortmund in a thrilling match and move 11 points clear at the top of the Bundesliga.

The England striker took his tally to 45 goals in all competitions this season as Bayern became the first team to inflict a home league defeat on Dortmund.

Kane, who passed 500 A clinical Liverpool performance helped them beat battling West Ham in the Premier League and move level on points with fourth-placed Manchester United.

The hosts were 3-0 up at the break thanks to goals from Hugo Ekitike, Virgil van Dijk and Alexis Mac Allister.

West Ham pulled one back early in the second half through Tomas Soucek before Cody Gakpo restored Liverpool’s three-goal lead in the 70th minute.

Nuno Espirito Santo’s side scored again through Taty Castellanos, but an Axel Disasi own goal ensured Liverpool hit five goals in a league game for the first time this season.

All three of the Reds’ first-half goals came from set-pieces – with Arne Slot’s side now leading the table in 2026 when it comes to goals from set-plays (excluding penalties).

In the fifth minute, Ryan Gravenberch teed up Ekitike, who finished smartly to beat Mads Hermansen at the near post for his 16th goal of the season.

West Ham threatened to equalise, but against the run of play Liverpool doubled their advantage when Van Dijk headed in Dominik Szoboszlai’s corner.

The visitors failed to take advantage of Liverpool’s complacency with Konstantinos Mavropanos, Jarrod Bowen and Soucek all wasting chances.

And just before half-time, Mac Allister’s superb volley took a deflection and ended in the back of the net. That was the cue for sections of the travelling support to head for the exits.

 Nico Schlotterbeck’s opener.

Dortmund thought they had snatched a point when Daniel Svensson’s thumping volley sent Signal Iduna Park into pandemonium.

But that was until Joshua Kimmich’s strike three minutes from time kept Bayern in pole position to win a 14th title in 15 seasons.

Schlotterbeck headed Dortmund ahead in the 26th minute when he rose highest in a crowded penalty area to connect with Svensson’s free-kick from the left.

Dortmund had the chance to double their lead later in the half when Fabio Silva squared the ball to Maximilian Beier, who was denied by the onrushing Jonas Urbig.

Despite dominating possession in the first half, Bayern – playing with a front three of Kane, Michael Olise and Luis Diaz – were unable to test Dortmund goalkeeper Gregor Kobel.

But Kane equalised early in the second period with a poacher’s effort from inside the area at the end of a slick move involving Kimmich and Serge Gnabry.

Both teams missed chances before Kane scored a penalty – a record 10th in a Bundesliga season – after Josip Stanisic was floored by Schlotterbeck.

Dortmund levelled when Svensson volleyed past Urbig, but Kimmich all but ended their hopes of winning a first title since 2012.

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PSG Extend Lead In Ligue 1 

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Paris St-Germain stretched their lead at the top of Ligue 1 to four points by claiming a narrow win at Le Havre.

The defending champions hoped to take advantage after second-placed Lens drew at Strasbourg on Friday, and Bradley Barcola gave them a deserved lead shortly before half-time.

PSG had chances to extend their lead and substitute Desire Doue had a late penalty saved by Le Havre goalkeeper Mory Diaw.

Lee Kang-In had an effort saved by Diaw before his right-wing cross was headed home by Barcola for his ninth goal of the season.

Moments later Lee fired wide when through on goal, before PSG winger Khvicha Kvaratskhelia fired against a post just after half-time.

Keeper Matvey Safonov made a fine save from Issa Soumare to keep PSG in front, while Diaw denied substitutes Nuno Mendes, Ibrahim Mbaye and Doue.

Diaw parried Doue’s spot-kick low to his right after Doue was brought down by Lucas Gourna-Douath with 11 minutes left.

 

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