HOME > NEWS > EAGLETS GET AFRICAS FIRST WIN

Eaglets get Africa's first win

Eaglets get Africa's first win

Posted: 2009-10-28 07:05

Nigeria's Golden Eaglets edged to Africa's first win of the FIFA Under-17 World Cup, cruising past Honduras 1-0 with a goal from Abduljelil Ajagun, but in truth, the hosts should have had more for their dominance.

The Dolphins man cracked home from distance after 55 minutes as Nigeria finally made their complete dominance count at the National Stadium Abuja.

Honduras, perhaps wary of Nigeria's scoring threat after the 6-goal thriller against Germany set out their stall with a huge defensive wall against the Eaglets, who had made three changes from the team that started against Germany.

The Eaglets still managed to carve out a chance after 16 minutes, Edafe Egbedi's low shot forcing a fine save from Harold Fonseca.

That set the tone for the rest of the half as the Nigerians pressed on for the break-through goal, and virtually set up camp in the Honduran penalty area.

Two minutes shy of the hour, Stanley Okoro squeezed his shot wide after being sent in clear on goal.

A rush of chances followed and were promptly squandered before Kenneth Omeruo spurned a gilt-edged chance to poke home at the back post, only to head awkwardly wide on the stroke of halftime.

The game took a different complexion in the second half, as Honduras committed more men infront.

And it almost paid off when skipper Antony Lozano tried his luck from 20 yards, forcing Dami Paul into a fine save.

But that seemed to spur the Nigerians and they reclaimed control, but Okoro again missed another sitter from six yards.

It took Ajagun to show him how to do it, picking up a loose ball from wide and curling it into the top corner with Fonseca stranded.

A see-saw last 30 minutes followed, with the Nigerians edging the few chances that fell to either side, and they did enough to hold on to their lead and not only claim Africa's first win, but also put themselves in a handy position to qualify.

Their next meeting is against Argentina on Tuesday in Bauchi. The South Americans are already through to the next round after a 1-0 win over Germany.

Pointless Honduras meet Germany in Abuja the same day.

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Toluwase: 2009-10-28 07:55

KICKOFF.com is Nigeria playing Argentina on Tuesday or Friday? You've started again with wrong information so many of us can miss the match.

Ceeee 2: 2009-10-28 08:03

KON, please when is the match taking place,becos my fixtures says friday? why do you guys put tuesday? please set your record straight.
That Nigeria number 20(Azeez) is good. his passes are the type the SE neeeds. Passes that can penetrate the defense no matter how tight they may be.combine Ayila,Azeez and Ibrahim in the midfield for the SE, Nigeria midfield would be the best.
NFF,please start taking a look at accademies in Nigeria and support them as much as possible.

okeh: 2009-10-28 08:05

good match but one expected the goals to be a wider margin. hope they can bet Argentina. best of luck

ajibola: 2009-10-28 08:19

Good performance from the flying eaglets but definately not satisfactory in terms of goal scoring cuz in a competion of this magnitude goals are very important.Hope they beat argentina and SHOULD DEFINATELY WATCH OUT FOR ARGENTINA'S WONDER KID ARAUJO CUZ SOUTH AMERICAN PLAY CUNNY FOOTBALL SO ALL THE BEST EAGLETS!!

ajibola: 2009-10-28 08:19

**************POINT OF CORRECTION I MEANT GOLDEN EAGLETS****************

Birikiti: 2009-10-28 08:30

Ramon Azeez & Edafe Egbedi have shown class in the 2 matches played so far. I'm looking at the future of Nigerian soccer, pls let's not place too much burden on the Eaglets shoulders. Let them develop & we'll be the better for it.
NFF should make sure this guys have reputable agents & look into any contracts they want to sign o abeg!

Ariya: 2009-10-28 08:34

Congrat boys.

The technical team still have a lot to do.

If we don't improve our match Argentina may beat Nigeria.

Ariya: 2009-10-28 08:38

Congrat boys.

The technical team still have a lot to do.

If we don't improve our match Argentina may beat Nigeria.

GreenBlood4life: 2009-10-28 09:32

I am not expecting this guys to win the cup...I expect the NFF to build a future super eagles from this boys. These guys are good they just need some professional touches and we will rule the world in future. I see them making it to the Semi's...I hope they wount be 4goten after this competition. God bless Nigeria. God bless the Eagles and Eaglets.

chris: 2009-10-28 09:55

those boys were just running stupidly all over the pitch,is this a title winning team,definitely not.Very poor performance,Nigeria can not go anywhere in sports period!

chris: 2009-10-28 09:59

What future super eagles are we talking about here? Are we talking about those over aged players i saw on the pitch yesterday? First we have to deal with the issue of cheating,then tribalism,maybe after that we may succeed.The future of Nigerian football is very bleak i must admit...as a matter of fact everything in Nigeria is dead.

eteng: 2009-10-28 09:59

Great improvement from the first game.
They played business football lacking in our teams of recent and its good for us but they need to work on their passing,shooting and movement around the 18 yard box.
If they do and improve on every match then this will be the best team ever.

Apasi: 2009-10-28 10:25

Thank you my Brother for leting us be awear of the inaccurate time of our next match.

Accurate pass, Good Attacking, Nice Dribbling, beautiful crossing, nice shot, beautiful defence and wonderful finishing.

Please the technical crew must still do something about the forwarding and attacking mildfield because we need winning and not how much dribbling we played.


Please am Pleading to NFF dont Spoil these boys Career but ensure their future leadership in football and they shall continue putting smile on our face.

Every Nigerian must not forget that the next match would be Friday and not Tuesday. Dont miss it.

Good luck the Golden Eaglets and Nijer People.

Austin: 2009-10-28 11:02

Africa's performance in this tournament has been very woeful. But I believe that they will improve with time. I wish all the African teams well, and hope that the trophy remains in Africa. Ghana did it in Egypt, Nigeria should do it here, and then we will wait for SA 2010.

Austin: 2009-10-28 11:08

The Tech Crew need to work on the defending set pieces and crosses. The Germans took advantage of the deficiency in defending crosses. The Hondurans were playing the same tactics, lining up tall players at the opposite end of crosses, to capitalize on our most glaring area of weakness. Argentina will definitely take the same approach, aprt from their mesmerizing runs. If we cut out those lapses and play a more compact midfield, then we will go all the way.

tecthabj : 2009-10-28 11:09

i just want to congratulate coach obuh for thier wonderfull work atleast for giving nigerians the really under 17 boys for the first time big up coach.

Noel: 2009-10-28 11:32

It was not a loose ball. I certainly saw a pass from the right straight to Ajagun. They played the Nigerian way. total dominance. Well done eyin omo kekere.

Nero: 2009-10-28 12:03

My greetings to all positive forum mates. Their agents should please help this nation by making sure the have good contracts. The coaches should also work on their scoring understanding. Special thanks to AJAGUN brilliant goal. The boys should know that is goals that make a win and the purpose of playing is to win. They should not be shying always from scoring. Stop shooting wildly. @Kele, I expected you 2 ignore @chris as other mate did. This is not d time 4 detractors. All the same u gave him a good response. GE, more goals! More good game!! & wining all the way!!!

victor: 2009-10-28 12:21

My people I believe Chris, is just look for attention I know he will not get it, foolish Chris, or what ever you call your name.

victor: 2009-10-28 12:23

I don’t know what this our beloved boy did to you people mostly you this

I don’t know way Nigeria love running their people down. I am from Nigeria but I leave in Ghana if you people can take your mind back you will remember that they was time Ghana was not able to attend to two nation cup all this years Ghana people did not running their players or country down.

I still want to know why Nigeria don’t like MIKEL, each time you people compare Makhelele to Mikel have you people ask yourself how many years to take Makhelele to get where he is today. Two players cannot be the same everyone has own way of play, Makhelele cannot be Mikel, you cannot be me and I cannot be you.

Taking age (mike1 what ever you call yourself do you know any of this players? As I said I leave in Ghana I no three players from last Ghana team that just wan the under 20-world cup are you telling me that dose guys are under 20?

(mike1 I don’t think you are Nigerian may you are been pay to running Nigeria players down, I am sorry to say this your are foolish and your family is also foolish, you are talking about age cheat it look as eve is only Nigeria is in it, let me ask you, can you tell me any Ghana or Argentina Canada and Japan players who play along side N****wo Kanu at that under 17-world cup finely in 1993 that is still playing active football today, but we still have N****wo Kanu doing his best after what he pass through, I will advice you (mike1) to keep your comment to your foolish family.

For dose of you that hate Mikel I want to assure you people that Mikel will come back in big way, you people are not his God, you (Mike) The news is about ISAAC not MIKEL I know your problem but what I want to advice you is you need to change without that you will never progress in live. FOR YOUR MIKEL I WISH YOU THE BEST IN LIFE I DON’T KNOW YOU IN PERSON OR YOUR FAMILY BUT I LOVE TO HEAR GOOD NEWS ON PEOPLE THAT DO THERE BEST TO MAKE A LEAVING KNOW BODY IS YOUR GOD I NO YOU WILL COME BACK VERY SOON.

Big: 2009-10-28 13:16

Ariya, i strongly agree with you. The technical crew of the GE will have to improve and the entire team will also have to up their game to go far and win the competition. The GE have been flat footed and have always shot waywardly in front of goal in their last two matches with the over hyped Stanley Okoro being the greatest culprit by missing sitters in matches played so far. To sum it up, the GE have not shown any champions stuff in them.

CHIJIOKE: 2009-10-28 13:45

How can a big company like AIT TV cann't be able to show a match playing in nigeria?When ever matches are playing any were in the world we watch it here in cameroon without problems but when it is playing in nigeria we have alot of problems on were to watch the match,so pls can some body tell me were i can watch the match on friday?I want to use this oppotunity to continue my calling for nigeria to change,it is very painful and shameful that a whole world cup is playing in nigeria and people don't watch it directly from their homes.let ait do something pls.

nelson: 2009-10-28 13:48

@victor,it would have been better not to curse someone family on this site.honestly,it's ridiculous saying someone family is foolish take a look round about it the other way.

The Pacesetter: 2009-10-28 13:58

@Chris, i wonder wat kind of reasoning is urs. Its is as stupid as anything u can think of, am sure u are not a football fan, daz why u cud be unreasonable as such. Yestaday performance worth commendation, and as for their age, this boys are the youngest Nigeria hav ever present in any edition of this cadet world cup, and other country are guity as well, so what is your problem?

Buchi: 2009-10-28 14:17

So far so good...Best of luck GE. Best of luck Nigeria

shola: 2009-10-28 14:36

Some people say bad things about Nigeria, they should realise that there is no place like home[tewure ba je lo apada wale]. You will never here Americans say bad things about themselve even though many of them are very corrupt[ bernard maddoff]. Please let us cultivate the habit of saying good things about our beloved Nigeria, remember God told Moses, as this people say so will i do unto them.

moserity: 2009-10-28 14:42

KON, get it right. Nigeria Vs Argentina is coming up on Friday. Also, Argentina defeated Germany 2:1 and not 1:0 as reported.

Abbey: 2009-10-28 15:40

Can someone please tell the coaching crew of eaglet to dress appropriately for the match while they are on the bench. I can't even defferentiate the ball-boys from the coaches since they were all putting on thesame training kit. The coaches have nice jerseys and caps on provided by adidas. I wondered why they still have to put on the pink training kit that the ball-boys have on. Please tell them the world are watching them, this is a world tournament and not local league. Abbeyg (USA)

abiola: 2009-10-28 16:10

I want to support the view of Cletus about AZEEZ.I noticed him in our first match against Germany and now against Honduras.His passes were accurate and he was on top of his game at the mid field.NFF and the Super Eagles' Coaches had better start looking out for him,Ibrahim Rabiu and Yusuf Ayila for the SE mid field.I think the three will gel

jonathan: 2009-10-28 19:56

i know the captain of the Golden Eaglets he is 31 years old so we should stop deceiving ourself and look for the proper under 17.

ABOLADE: 2009-10-28 20:04

YOU CAN WATCH THE MATCH ON NTA

phil: 2009-10-28 20:05

@chris, you are an idiot,did you see the possesion if you even watched the match. pls take your bad luck away from this forum. the eaglets can do better without somebody like you.

IKE_oslo: 2009-10-28 20:50

This u 17 team is bull****,when did all this mallam start playing football?how can they score an start nodding there heads in the ground? nigeria is not a mallam country.coach abi na wetin be ur name,u look like aboki too.mallams are made for gate man not football.

Flex: 2009-10-28 20:59

@ Mike... bros, u too much..... Dem catch anybobdy with missile?... Me Man luv ur commet , I and I 1 luv brother,until ainity. @! Jonathan... How old r u? from the way u are talking, i am wondering weather u r the father of that guy... Well done Golden Eaglets but then the players have to raise the standard of their game to beat Argentina cos' Good can never be better while better can not be the Best!!!

UD: 2009-10-28 21:02

CHRIS:

NIGERIA WILL NOT DIE. NA YOU GO DIE FIRST

the harder they come, the harder they fall

UD: 2009-10-28 21:52

okoro is not talented as people claimed.
as a matter of fact he ia responssible for our inability to score goals. in both matches count how many chances okoro missed, a talented player cant miss as many as okoro did. i think uboh have to bench okoro and give chance to other player. if Uboh continue with okoro then nigeria will not go further.

ken gadaffi: 2009-10-29 09:49

Does it mean that KON dont have photos from the ongoing tournament to go along with their stories?

Hassan: 2009-10-29 14:09

Hey IKE_oslo,who are you and what are you saying.We are all football funs and we will like to see Nigeria and Africa win.Hey go home and bring your best son that can play for us.You will live to regret.Stupid man.**** uuuuuuuuuuuuu

habib: 2009-10-29 14:51

haba, nija people don start again, some peeps don dey say we shud include Azzeeez in the super eagles, the guy jus played 2 gmes for the u17 people shud jus chill out and no dey jump. players need to grow slowly and mature before they get to play for the senior team, some people no nuthin about football and dem think dem be next coach of nigeria.

secondly nigerian shud wake up and not think that nigeria shud be beating teams 4 5 6 nil aanymore, football is difficult, and all teams are very hard to play against, dey all no that nija is good in football and always want to beat us. we shud forget about the days wen e beat teams 10 nil.

okechi: 2009-10-30 05:51

todays match against argentina is going to be 3-0 in favour of eaglets. believe is or not. cos i have already watch the game....

UD: 2009-10-30 09:39

OKECHI:

are you trying to say opposite.

UD: 2009-10-30 09:44

COACH SHOULD BENCH OKORO TO ALLOW OTHER PLAYERS SHOW THEIR TALENTS. OKORO HAS BEEN A SOURCE OF WORRY OVER THE LAST 2 MATCHES.

Adebayo Muhammed : 2009-10-30 10:50

Good, day kickoff. By specia grace of God Eglet wil win to day much. An go stright to win the cup. (Amen).