Nigeria’s Golden Eaglets will be gunning for record fifth U17 World Cup when they open the competition on Saturday against the United States of America in Santiago, Chile.
Eaglets have won the World Cup four times – in 1985, 1993, 2007 and 2013. They were also runners-up in 1987, 2001 and 2009.
The coach Emmanuel Amuneke led team booked a place in the Chile 2015 FIFA U17 World Cup as semi-finalists at CAF U17 championship, losing the third place game 3-1 to Guinea.
They featured at an invitational tournament in South Korea, which also included Brazil, Croatia and the home nation, before they trained in Argentina for two weeks ahead of the World Cup.
Two years ago a team parading the likes of Kelechi Iheanacho, Taiwo Awoniyi, Yahaya Musa, Dele Alampasu, captain Musa Mohammed broke several records on their way to winning the tournament in style.
In Chile, the Eaglets Class of 2015 boast Victor Osimhen, who is the team’s leading scorer; Funsho Bamgboye, who has added class to the team’s strike force; Kelechi Nwakali, who is on Manchester City radar and Osinachi Ebere.
Golden Eaglets coach Emmanuel Amuneke is an ex-international and was the assistant to Manu Garba in 2013, when they won the trophy.
THE GOLDEN EAGLETS
1.Name: Akpan Udoh
Born: 18/07/1998
Position: Goalkeeper
Height: 1.69m
Club: Remo Academy
2. Name: John Lazarus
Born: 6/6/1998
Position: Defender
Height: 1.69m
Club: Fosla Academy
3.Name: Tobechukwu Ibe
Born: 17/06/1998
Position: Defender
Height: 1.65 m
Club: SiaOne Academy
4. Name: David Enogela
Born: 4/2/1998
Position: Midfielder
Height: 1.58m
Club: Young Stars
5. Name: Lukman Zakari
Born: 23/12/1998
Position: Defender
Height: 1.67m
Club: Unity Academy
6. Name: Kingsley Michael
Born: 26/8/1999
Position: Midfielder
Height: 1.69m
Club: Abuja Football College
7. Name: Funsho Bamgboye
Born: 9/1/1999
Position: Striker
Height: 1.65m
Club: Aspire Academy
8. Name: Samuel Chukwueze
Born: 22/5/1999
Position: Midfielder
Height: 1.63m
Club: Diamond Academy
9. Name: Victor Osimhen
Born: 29/12/1998
Position: Striker
Height: 1.60m
Club: Ultimate Strikers
10. Name: Kelechi Nwakali
Born: 5/6/1998
Position: Midfielder
Height: 1.78m
Club: ASJ Academy
11.Name: Chinedu Madueke
Born: 5/8/1998
Position: Midfielder
Height: 1.61m
Club: Virgin Kids FC
12. Name: Chukwudi Agor
Born: 26/11/1998
Position: Midfielder
Height: 1.60m
Club: ASJ Academy
13. Name: Joel Osikel
Born: 17/6/1998
Position: Midfielder
Height: 1.62m
Club: Young Eleven
14. Name: Ejike Ikwu
Born: 15/2/199
Position: Defender
Height: 1.62m
Club: Starplus FC
15. Name: Udochukwu Anumudu
Born: 9/10/1998
Position: Striker
Height: 1.61m
Club: Enyi Academy
16. Name: Amos Benjamin
Born: 22/12/1998
Position: Goalkeeper
Height: 1.56m
Club: Abuja Football College
17. Name: Osinachi Ebere
Born: 4/4/1998
Position: Striker
Height: 1.68m
Club: ASJ Academy
18. Name: Edidiong Essien
Born: 26/11/1999
Position: Midfielder
Height: 1.68m
Club: Rapture Academy
19. Name: Sunday Alimi
Born: 7/10/1999
Position: Striker
Height: 1.69m
Club: Topworld FC
20.Name: Orji Okwonkwo
Born: 19/1/1998
Position: Striker
Height: 1.69m
Club: Abuja Football College
- Name: Chisom Chiaha
Born: 2/2/1998
Position: Goalkeeper
Height: 1.62m
Club: Apapa Golden Star
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