Abuja – The Speaker of the House of Representatives, Mr Yakubu Dogara, has congratulated Nigeria’s U-17 national team, the Golden Eaglets over their victory at the just concluded world championship in Chile.
The Eaglets defeated their Malian counterparts 2-0 in the finals to lift the trophy for a record fifth time.
This is contained in a statement signed by the Special Adviser on Media and Public Affairs to the Speaker, Mr Turaki Hassan on Monday in Abuja.
The statement quoted the speaker as saying that the Golden Eaglets had done Nigeria and Nigerians proud.
“I congratulate the nation’s U-17 national team over this historic victory over Mali.
“You have done us proud and demonstrated that with hard work and unity of purpose, we can surmount our challenges and emerge victorious as a nation.
“I doff my hat for these young patriots, who have written their names in gold in the annals of Nigeria’s soccer history,” he said.
Dogara said that the team played the classical Nigerian pattern of football against their opponents.
He said the special congratulation goes to the technical team led by Emmanuel Amuneke, who put in so much effort in selecting the winning team.
“I want to use this medium to call on authorities of the nation’s football and other sports to harness talents of young men and women in our country.
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“Football has over time proved to be one thing that continues to unite Nigerians.
“We should emulate the Golden Eaglets who thought of different background and religion put aside their differences to win this prestigious trophy for Nigeria.
“These young men have proved their mettle; we all need to encourage them to go for higher heights.
“I look forward to meeting with the team when they return home,” it said.
The speaker said that the task ahead of the Golden Eaglets’ handlers was to keep the team together and groom them for bigger competitions in the future. (NAN)
