Abuja- Nigeria’s under-17 male football team, the Golden Eaglets, will on Wednesday face Fasbir FC of Sokoto in a friendly match at the Giginya Memorial Stadium in Sokoto.
A statement by the team’s Media Officer, Morakinyo Abodunrin, on Sunday said the match would be the team’s last domestic friendly before their departure for the 2015 African U-17 Championship.
In the statement, Emmanuel Amuneke, the team’s Head Coach, said the match was an opportunity to see the readiness of the players ahead of the championship in Niger Republic.
“Apart from using this match as an opportunity to see the readiness of our players, we want to also appreciate the people of Sokoto for their support since we arrived here.
“We are going to give our best against Fasbir FC,’’ Amuneke was quoted as saying.
The statement also quoted the Team Manager of Fasbir FC, Abdullahi Ilyasu, as saying the match would be an opportunity for his young team to learn from the national team.
“We are really looking forward to the match against the Golden Eaglets, since it will expose our players to what is expected at this level.
“Though the team was formed about two years ago, we have been doing well and we are going to do our best on Wednesday,’’ he said.
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The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) recalls that the national team had arrived in Sokoto on Friday, from where the team would depart for Niger Republic.
The Eaglets have been drawn in Group A of the African championship alongside hosts Niger Republic, Guinea and Zambia.
Nigeria and Niger Republic will play the championship’s opening match on Feb. 15 at the Stade Général Seyni Kountché (SGSK).
Nigeria have emerged champions in 2001 and 2007 since the tournament’s inception in 1995.
The championship is billed for Feb. 15 to March 1.(NAN)