Bring The U-17 Championship Home, Sultan Charges Eaglets

The Sultan of Sokoto, Alhaji Abubakar Sa’ad II, has urged Nigeria’s Under -17 male football team, Golden Eaglets, to bring home the African U-17 Championship trophy.
A statement by the team’s Media Officer, Morakinyo Abodunrin, yesterday said that the sultan made the call when the team made a courtesy call on him in Sokoto.
According to the statement, the sultan urged the Eaglets to be disciplined to enable them to succeed.
The statement added that the royal father prayed for the team’s success.
“ We want you to be good ambassadors of this country when you go to Niger; I want you to go and bring the trophy again to Nigeria.
“As you do this, you must be disciplined and listen to your coaches because without discipline you cannot achieve much as a footballer,’’ the statement quoted the royal father as saying.
It said that the sultan was delighted at the courtesy call.
“I am very happy to receive you on behalf of the people of Sokoto, and I want to believe this is the first time some of you are coming to the palace.
“In fact, this is the first time we are hosting a national team here at the palace,’’ the statement also quoted the sultan as saying.
It said that the Head Coach of the team, Emmanuel Amuneke, and the Captain, Kelechi Nwakali, thanked the royal father and the palace chiefs for hosting the team and praying for the players.
It said that they promised that the team would do its best to win the tournament.
The national team arrived in Sokoto on Friday from where they would depart for Niger Republic.
The Eaglets have been drawn in Group A of the African championship alongside hosts, Niger Republic, Guinea and Zambia.
Nigeria and Niger Republic will play the championship’s opening match on Sunday at the Stade Général Seyni Kountché (SGSK).
The championship is billed to end on March 1.
Nigeria emerged champions in 2001 and 2007. The tournament began in 1995.