Members of the FIFA U-17 World Cup winning squad, the Golden Eaglets have
confided
in NIGERIAN PILOT that they are yet to recover from the shock after the
Nigeria Football Federation, NFF handed them a paltry N20, 000 each
before they dispersed in Abuja last Thursday.“It’s surely not the best way to treat heroes.
The money they gave us could not even fetch
us flight tickets to take us home to see our loved ones,’’ said one of
the players who did not want his name in print for fear of victimisation
by officials of the football federation.
Another player said on phone yesterday:
“I’ve
heard about how badly players have been treated in the past. I didn’t
think ours would come so soon. I am still, however, grateful to God we
came home with the trophy. The victory has opened new doors of
opportunity which we are already exploring,’’ said the player who is on
verge of sealing a lucrative professional contract with an English
Premier League club.
Players and officials of the U-17 NationalTeam returned to the country last
Wednesday, following a successful campaign at the FIFA U-17 World Cup in
Chile.
They were driven round parts of Abuja, the Federal Capital Territory in a
motorcade before the convoy arrived at the Transcorp Hilton Hotel.
The new Minister of Youth and Sports, Mr. Solomon Dalong, later had dinner with the team at the Transcorp Hilton Hotel.
The team will be decamped on Thursday, to reconvene for a presidential reception which Nigerian Pilot gathered, has been scheduled for November 28 in Abuja.
The team helped Nigeria become the first country to win the FIFA U-17 World Cup title for a fifth time in Chile recently. The Eaglets also became only the second side
to retain the FIFA U-17 World Cup with a 2-0 win against Mali in the
grand finale. A key member of the team, Victor Osimhen, clinched the
Adidas Silver Ball for the highest goal scorer of the tournament where
he banged in a record-breaking ten goals. Captain Kelechi Nwakali was
also adjudged
the most valuable player and went home with the Adidas Golden Ball award.
He scored three goals, including two penalties, and provided a further three
assists, a haul that also brought him the Adidas Bronze Boot.
LOL i no fit shout ooo!!
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