Super golden champions

Iheanacho

The Golden Eaglets are back in  the spotlight again after beating Mexico 3-0 to win the FIFA Under-17 World Cup in the United Arab Emirates  for  the fourth time – the first in the history of the tournament that began in China in 1985.

Incidentally, Nduka Ugbade, who assisted coach Manu Garba to with the UAE 2013 title, lifted  the trophy at China ’85 as  captain of the team.

Friday’s triumph  in the United Arab Emirates caps a successful year for Nigeria after the Super Eagles  won the Africa Cup of Nations in South Africa on February 10.

And the country only need a draw to seal their place at the 2014 World Cup in Brazil – meaning it has been a good year for Nigerian football.

The UAE success seems to suggest that Nigeria are  on the path of reclaiming their lost glory at the cadet levels. The Eaglets were second best at the Nigeria 2009 finals after they won the tournament in South Korea two years earlier. Rather than building on the 2009 performance, Nigeria failed to qualifier for the 2011 edition of the championship in Mexico.

Nigeria hit their lowest point in the fast-fading  year when  the Flying Eagles crashed out in the quarterfinals of Turkey 2013 FIFA Under-20 World Cup.

But Nigerians have cause to look into the future with hope following the Eaglets’ triumph  on Friday.

The team emerged as the best attacking side with 26 goals.

 Nigeria had three players in the top scorer’s chart with Kelechi Iheanacho netting six times to come second behind Sweden’s Valmir Berisha with seven goals. Taiwo Awoniyi  hit the back of the net four times and captain Musa Mohammed  thrice.

Iheanacho won the Golden Ball while goalkeeper Dele Alampasu picked the Golden Gloves. Nigeria also won the Fair Play award.

In  Iheanacho, who has been linked with Premier League giants Arsenal, Nigeria could be said to be on the verge of throwing up a player that could grab the world’s attention again.

Former Super Eagles captain Nwankwo Kanu, who watched the final,   began to hit the headlines immediately he joined Dutch giants Ajax after helping Nigeria win  the Under-17 title at Japan ’93. Two years later he won the UEFA Champions League with the side.

With Emmanuel Emenike appearing to be the only reliable striker in the Eagles, coach Stephen Keshi  will be  to looking in the direction of Iheanacho for future tournaments.

 Mohammed, Awoniyi,Yahaya,  Isaac Success, Sam Okon , Abdullahi   Alfa and Chidiebere Nwakali and Alampasu are players capable of pulling the strings for Nigeria in the future if properly managed through the Under-20 and Under-23  to the senior level.