18th April, 2013
The national U-17 team, Golden Eaglets have offered their unreserved apologies to Nigerians following their shock 0-1 loss to Cote d’Ivoire in their second game at the ongoing 2013 Morocco CAF Under-17 Championship.
The self-acclaimed ‘New Nigeria Golden Eaglets’ who opened their account at the tournament with a 6-1 victory over Black Starlets of Ghana on Monday, failed to match their high standard as they fell to the Ivorian team yesterday.
Speaking with the players at their Ryad Mogador Hotel in Marrakech on Thursday, Nigeria Football Federation President, Alhaji Aminu Maigari, advised the team to live up to their pre-tournament’s high rating by winning their next game against Congo on Saturday and secure qualification for the World Cup.
The President met the players and the technical crew of the team immediately after lunch in company of Dr. Sanusi Mohammed, the Director of Competitions at the NFF.
“We want you to be more determined and focused,” he said. “The next game against Congo on Saturday is the most important match for you at this competition. We want you to approach it with all seriousness and we want to wish you well.”
Responding on behalf of his teammates, vice captain, Success Isaac, pleaded with Nigerians over the loss to Cote d’Ivoire, saying they were saddened by the outcome of the match.
“We want to thank you sir for all the support you have given to us and we are deeply sorry about what happened on Wednesday against Cote d’Ivoire,” said the lad who is still the leading scorer with four goals at this tournament.
“We wanted to win and we went into the field with that positive mindset but it was unfortunate that we lost.”
He added: “We are using this opportunity to beg Nigerians and we are promising them a better performance starting with the game against Congo on Saturday. We are determined than ever to do our best and by the grace of God, we won’t disappoint Nigerians on Saturday.”