Amuneke ‘impress’ with Golden Eaglets in 4-0 Friendly win over Eko United

[contextly_auto_sidebar id=”wLOVfNEjVRSCzYDx4Hy7wwkZLV7czmJJ”]

Nigeria U-17 male national Team, Golden Eaglets on Wednesday brushed aside Eko United Football Club 4-0 in a friendly match played at the NFF\FIFA Goal Project Pitch in Abuja.
Golden Eaglets' line up

Gangling striker, Victor Osimhen grabbed a brace while Nduka Ebere and Joseph Michael added the other goals.

In front of an impressive crowd including chieftains of the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) and a host of management and staff, the Golden Eaglets put a spirited performance to underline their readiness for the task ahead.

Incidentally, three of the goals including two in the first half by Osimhen in the fourth minute and Ebere in the 40th minute were from the spot kick after Eko United defenders were punished for ball handling in the box. The Eaglets could have added more goals in the first half but Osimhen and Ebere’s efforts crashed against the goal post.

Eko United were rejuvenated in the second half but the Eaglets’ defence-line led by Lukman Halilu and Ebuka Okoroji did great job to keep the Lagos side at bay. At the other end, Eko United collapsed under the Eaglets’ pressure again in the 63rd minute following another ball handling and Osimhen dispatched the ball beyond the goalkeeper once more.

Minutes later, substitute Suleiman Abubakar’s volley on the edge of the box ricocheted off the goal post again. But in the 85th minute, Michael grabbed his first goal for the Golden Eaglets off an incisive pass from Obinna Chukwu to put the match beyond Eko United.

“This was a good performance by the Golden Eaglets,” stated Coach Shakiru Giwa of Eko United, a former player with Julius Berger FC. “I’m quite impressed with the fitness of the team and we lost to a very good side.” Coach Emmanuel Amuneke equally praised his fledgling side but added the team is still work in progress as they step up preparation for the FIFA U-17 World Cup starting in Chile on October 17.

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *