The golden eaglets are set to defend their trophy they won in the UAE against the reigning african champions, Mali. The four times world champions, Nigeria have failed each time to defend their U17 trophy but they hope to break that jinx aginst the reigning african Champion. The Malians on the other hand are in their maiden U17 final.

The golden eaglet won their maiden trophy in China '85, the second in Japan '93, third in South Korea 2007 and the last one in UAE 2013, and they've in all occasions failed to defend their trophy which has made the jinx span almost 30 years.

Nigeria and Mali easily dispatched Mexico and Belgium in the semifinal 4-2 and 3-1 respectively which has in turn set the ground for an all-african final.

The golden eaglets have been impressive during this tournament as they have recorded 5 wins and have only been beaten once in the group stage aginst Croatia. The malians on the other hand have also been impressive as they have recorded 5 wins and a draw in the group stage against Belgium. In one sentence, it is a match of the best attacking side against the best defensive side.

The goalscoring exploits of both teams has been equally amazing as Nigeria has scroed 21 goals while leting in just 5 in 6 games against 12 goals scored and 2 goals conceded in 6 matches by Mali. By virtue of thesee stats, it is evident that the Nigerians have their strength in attack and weakness in defense unlike the Malians whose strength lie in defence and are relatively weak attack-wise.

The unraveling star in the camp of the eaglets is none other than Victor Osimhen who has successfully found the back of the net nine times, equalling the record held by Souleymane Coulibaly and Florent Sinama-Pongolle of France and Ivory Coast respectively. A goal in the final will see him become the all-time top goalscorer in the history of the competition.
For the Malian party, they can bank on Amadou Haidara. Haidara and his Malian team mates could become champions on Sunday when they take on Nigeria in an all-African final. The young striker has caught the eye with his technique and could also be
lifting the trophy by the end of the day.

The match is set to hold on sunday, 8th of November, 2015 at the Estadio Sausalito in the city of Vina Del Mar, Chile. The time for the match is 7.00pm (11pm Nigerian Time) with the English referee, Michael Oliver, the match official.


By Mustapha Abdul-Raheem.

Efe Ambrose, Moses Simon and Odion Ighalo provided goalscoring contributions as Nigeria claimed a deserved 3-0 victory over Cameroon in an international friendly in Brussels on Sunday. Carl Ikeme kept his place in goal with Leon Balogun, Ambrose, Shehu Abdullahi and Elderson Echiejile starting in a four-man defence for the Super Eagles. Ogenyi Onazi, Sylvester Igbonu and John Mikel Obi all started in the middle while Emmanuel Emenike, Simon and captain Ahmed Musa played in the more advanced positions. 

It was however the Super Eagles that created the first real dangerous moment through Igbonu who delivered a telling low cross from the right after a lovely interchange of passes between Musa and Emenike. Nigeria continued to cause problems on the wings as exemplified by Simon’s electrifying run down the left which caused panic in the Cameroon rear guard. The three-time African champions were looking menacing and came close again in the 23rd minute with Emenike forcing a smart save from Cameroon goalkeeper Fabrice Ondoa. Cameroon’s best chance of the half arrived just after the half hour when Ambrose almost diverted a harmless ball into his own net when goalkeeper Carl Ikeme seemingly had the danger covered. Nigeria eventually took the lead in the 39th minute as Ambrose rose highest to head home a John Obi Mikel free kick from the left with Ondoa stranded in a crowded penalty area. 

The Indomitabe Lions tried to stir from hibernation after the Nigeria goal and Benjamin Moukandjou did great work on the right in the 43rd minute but saw his dangerous cross fail to reach anyone in a yellow shirt when the slightest of touches would have seen the net bulge. A minute later, the Lions threatened again from the left wing but Clinton N’jie’s cross again failed to reach a Cameroonian head or foot at the opportune moment. Cameroon started the second half in the worst possible manner with Stephane M’bia dismissed after picking up a second booking following a shocking tackle on Igbonu a minute after the restart. Ikeme was forced into his first save on the evening in the 56th minute when Moukandjo’s curling drive from outside the penalty area appeared to be heading into the bottom corner. 

Cameroon continued to pour forward in search of the equaliser but were leaving open gaps at the back. The Super Eagles exploited the spaces and made the Lions pay on the hour following a counter attack finished with deadly efficiency. KAA Gent attacker Simon latched onto a long pass and turned a Cameroonian defender inside out before beating Ondoa at his near post with a cultured left-footed finish. Substitute, Ighalo headed home a late third following an excellent team move as the Eagles finished things off with a flourish. Oliseh will be pleased with his charges’ exertions on the night as his charges closed out the win playing some expansive football late in the second half.

     Oliseh on Tuesday had stripped Enyeama of the captaincy of the Super Eagles and handed it to CSKA Moscow forward Ahmed Musa, forcing the Lille keeper to end his international career in controversial circumstances. The goalkeeper, on the social networking site, alleged insults to his late mother as well as being thrown out of the national camp by hotel security in Verviers, Belgium. But the coach, while debunking the claims on Friday, expressed sadness over Enyeama’s retirement from the national team, which he said had turned many fans against him, following the team’s 2-0 loss to Congo in a friendly on Thursday night.  

     Enyeama, on his Instagram account on Saturday, however, expressed sombreness, saying he was “humiliated,” which led him to quit the national team. “Who would be happy after just burying your mother that carried you nine months in the womb and suffered for you day and night, jumping on a six-hour plane to represent your fatherland only to be stripped of the captainship and humiliated at the first meeting in front of everyone after serving the nation for 13 years? 

     “I have honoured about 99 per cent of the national team’s invitations, no matter where the match is played. Anyway, my decision to quit the national team is for the best interest of the nation. I don’t want to be the reason that Nigerian football house is divided. “I want Nigeria to get back up to where it belongs. It’s a professional decision made for the blessing of the nation. I am very sorry for being the reason that all these things are happening. God bless Nigeria,” he said. 

     Meanwhile, there were indications on Saturday that the Nigerian Football Federation President, Amaju Pinnick, held talks with Enyeama in Brussels, Germany, in a bid to convince the veteran player into changing his mind about his sudden exit from the Super Eagles.