Nigeria get set to battle El Tri
of Mexico in the 15th edition
of the Fifa U17 World Cup in
the United Arab Emirates ΘΩ
Friday, Goal examines all the
cadet World Cups the Golden
Eaglets have featured in its final.

CHINA 1985: GERMANY 0-2 NIGERIA

The Golden Eaglets conquered the world in the
inaugural edition of the U17 World Cup staged in
China. Nigeria sent shivers down the spines of
opposing teams as they dominated every
departments of the game. After brushing aside the
likes of Italy, Costa Rica and Saudi Arabia in the first
round, Hungary was next to face the fury of the
Nduka Ugbade-captained team as they were
trounced 3-1 in Shanghai. However, the Eaglets
faced their toughest test of the championship when
they faced West African foes, Guinea in the Semi
finals which they scraped through 4-2 on penalties.
In the final match, the Germans had no hiding place
as they bowed to a well organised Nigeria side that
had Lucky Agbonsevafe who looked majestic in goal,
Sani Adamu dictating the pace in the midfield and
Joseph Babatunde wreacking havoc in the
opponents’ defence.
Coach: Sebastian Broderick
Goals scored in the tournament: 10
Discovery(s): Nduka Ugbade, Jonathan Akpoborie

CANADA 1987: NIGERIA 1 (2-4) 1 SOVIET
UNION
Phillip Osondu almost single-handedly gave Nigeria
their second world cadet championship title but the
USSR proved to be luckier team as they edged out
Nigeria on penalties to be crowned world
champions after a tension-soaked final.
Defending champions Nigeria began with a 1-1 draw
against eventual champions Soviet Union before
pushing aside South American champions Bolivia
3-2 in a ding-dong affair with Osondu – the golden
boot winner getting a brace. Though they lost
narrowly 1-0 to Mexico, the Eaglets made it to the
last eight ahead of the Concacaf kings on superior
goal difference. Nigeria overcame Australia in the
quarter final before brushing European superpower
- Italy for a place in their second successive final.
Playing intelligent football built around a 4-4-2
formation which gave them a free rein to some
excellent individual talents, the Sebastian Broderick
Eaglets bowed to Soviet Union in the final after
scores stood 1-1 after extra time.

Coach: Sebastian Broderick
Goals scored in the tournament: 7
Discovery(s): Phillip Osondu, Jonathan Akpoborie

JAPAN 1993: GHANA 1-2 NIGERIA

After failing to get past Saudi Arabia in the quarter
finals of Scotland 89 and missing out of the 1991
edition, Nigeria made their fourth appearance at
the Fifa U17 World Cup count as they won their
second title in third showing in the final.
Nigeria made their intention of a second title known
in their very first game when they hammered
Canada 8-0 before dismissing the Argentine football
team by four unreplied goals. With qualification to
the knock out stage already guaranteed, the Eaglets
slammed the door softly against Australia with a 2-0
victory in Gifu City.
The Fanny Amun-tutored lads survived a scare from
the hosts in the quarter finals before securing a 2-1
victory over Poland in Hiroshima. Ghana proved a
hard nut to crack in the final as Daniel Addo,
Sebastian Barnes and Michael Edusei unsettled the
Mobil Oparaku led backline but it was the Nigerians
that reigned supreme after 90 minutes of exciting
football.
Coach: Fanny Amun
Goals scored in the tournament: 20
Discovery(s): Wilson Oruma, Kanu Nwankwo,
Celestine Babayaro, Pascal Ojigwe

TRINIDAD & TOBAGO 2001: FRANCE 3-0
NIGERIA

It was a failed expedition for Nigeria as they failed
to lift the trophy despite showing lots of promises
enroute the final.
Abdullahi Musa’s lads showed maturity beyond their
years as they as they oscillated between a 4-4-2 and
4-3-3 and were able to rely on two extremely gifted
individuals – Femi Opabunmi and Karimu Shuaibu.
Their biggest highlight in the competition was their
5-1 massacre of Australia in the quarter finals after
an inspiring victory over the United States of
America in their last group game in Scarborough.
The Golden Eaglets eventually surrendered the
trophy to the French team in the final no thanks to
an apathetic display.
Coach: Musa Abdullahi
Goals scored in the tournament: 14
Discovery(s): Femi Opabunmi, Akpan Bassey

SOUTH KOREA 2007: SPAIN 0 (0-3) 0 NIGERIA

Nigeria made it three out of three on Asian soil after
previous successes in China and Japan respectively.
Though the Eaglets made a slow start in the opening
game against France, they bounced back with a
commanding 4-1 annihilation of Haiti before a 2-1
win over Japan in their last group outing.
Yakubu Alfa was the hero in Gwangyang as he came
off the bench to secure victory for his side that was
down by a lone goal to a hard-fighting Colombian
side in the round of 16. It took the individual
brilliance of skipper Haruna Lukman to push aside
the Argentines before making life difficult for a Toni
Kroos-led German side in the semi final.
In the final, Nigeria successfully converted their spot
kicks with Dele Ajiboye stopping two of the Spain’s
kick after match had ended scoreless.

Coach: Yemi Tella
Goals scored in the tournament: 16
Discovery(s): Haruna Lukman, Chrisantus
Macauley, Rabiu Ibrahim

NIGERIA 2009: NIGERIA 0-1SWITZERLAND

Defending Champions, Nigeria got stunned by the
Swiss – first timers at the global fiesta in the final
played in Abuja. Despite the vociferous fans that
trooped into the Abuja National Stadium to cheer
the Golden Eaglets, the John Obuh managed team
failed to make home advantage count.
Not many expected Dany Ryser’s side to stop the
hosts from lifting a record fourth title after the
Nigerians came from three goals down to hold the
Germans U17 to a 3-3 draw in Group A’s opening
game. The team made a steady progress as the
competition continued especially their
comprehensive victory over hot-title favorites Spain
in the semis.

Coach: John Obuh
Goals scored in the tournament: 15
Discovery(s): Ogenyi Onazi, Kenneth Omeruo

With all now set for the final on Friday evening, will
the Nigeria U17 boys win a record fourth title in
their seventh appearance in the final? Ninety
minutes of football at the Mohammad Bin Zayed
Stadium in Abu Dhabi will decide.

That Abuja final still hurts tho... Pls DON'T like this post if you think Nigeria will win today...leave d post like dat, no be by force 2 like

johnwizey: UP NIGERIA!!

DOWN MEXICO!!

I think somethings are still missing.