President Muhammadu Buhari on Saturday charged the Golden Eaglets not to settle for anything less than victory in the final match of the FIFA Under-17 World Cup holding in Chile on Sunday.
The Emmanuel Amuneke-tutored players will be playing against their Malian counterparts in the final match of the tournament.
They had in the early hours of Friday won their semi-final match against Mexico team 4-2 to qualify for the final.
Buhari’s goodwill message to the team was conveyed to them in a telephone conversation he had with the players on Saturday.
According to a statement by his Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Femi Adesina, the President spoke with the Golden Eaglets and their officials on the telephone for about 25 minutes.
He urged them to strive for victory in the final match.
Nigeria first won the same tournament in China in 1985, when Buhari was military Head of State, and he urged the team to repeat the same feat against Mali, to make it the fifth time Nigeria will win the trophy.
Starting with the head coach, Emmanuel Amuneke, Adesina said Buhari congratulated him for leading the team to the final, and further quoted the President as saying, “Your victory on Sunday would remind Nigerians of what happened in China 30 years ago, and it would raise the morale of Nigerians, especially the youths.
We’re praying for you. We are anxiously waiting to receive the cup. Please put us on the world map of soccer again.”
Speaking to Udoh Akpan, the goalkeeper, Buhari was said to have described him as a very strategic member of the team, saying “If you don’t let in the goals, then none will be scored against us. We look forward to lifting the cup.”
To John Lazarus, a defender, the President said, “don’t allow anybody to penetrate the defence,” while charging Tobechukwu Ibe, another defender, to “rest well on Saturday, because a lot of Nigerians will be depending on you tomorrow Sunday.”
To top striker, Victor Osimhen, who has scored nine goals so far, Buhari said, “Strike like thunder on Sunday. I believe you will bring us victory.”
The captain of the team, Kelechi Nwakali, was charged to maintain his winning leadership, while Joel Osikel, a midfielder, was told by the President that he was “the jewel of the team,” and challenged him to contribute his quota towards victory.
Apart from the 21 players and head coach, Buhari also had encouraging words for other members of the technical team, the team doctor, physiotherapist, media officer, and other officials.
Both Coach Amuneke and the team captain thanked Buhari for his support, and promised not to let him and the country down.
Victory on Sunday will see the Golden Eaglets clinching the Under-17 trophy for the fifth time.
