President Muhammadu Buhari has officially congratulated the Golden Eaglets for winning retaining the U-17 FIFA World Cup in Chile, late Sunday night.
The President in a statement made available to Global Patriot Newspapers, Monday, and signed by his Special Adviser (Media & Publicity), Femi Adesina, ‘applaud the exemplary zeal, determination, commitment, hard work, patriotism and soccer artistry which the youthful Golden Eaglets put on display throughout the tournament to win the championship for a record fifth time.’
“On behalf of the Federal Government and millions of very happy and proud Nigerians, President Muhammadu Buhari congratulates the Golden Eaglets of Nigeria on their victory over Mali in the final match of this year’s Under-17 FIFA World Cup tournament in Chile.
“President Buhari applauds the exemplary zeal, determination, commitment, hard work, patriotism and soccer artistry which the youthful Golden Eaglets put on display throughout the tournament to win the championship for a record fifth time.
“The President notes with delight that the Golden Eaglets not only won the coveted Under-17 FIFA World Cup, but they are also bringing home highly-valued individual awards such as the Golden Boot won by Victor Osimhen for being the tournament’s highest goal scorer and the Golden Ball, won by the team captain, Kelechi Nwakali for being the best player.
“President Buhari believes that by their triumph in Chile, the Golden Eaglets have shown the world that the indomitable Nigerian spirit is alive and waxing stronger.
“For the President, the Golden Eaglets’ latest victory on the global stage is an affirmation of the significant progress Nigeria is now making towards positively redefining and rediscovering its potential for greatness in the comity of nations.
“President Buhari trusts that if all other Nigerians imbibe and exhibit the doggedness, determination and patriotism displayed by their youthful compatriots in Chile, Nigeria will surely make faster progress towards becoming the strong, united, peaceful, secure and prosperous nation envisioned by its people.
“The President joins other proud Nigerians in awaiting the Golden Eaglets triumphant return to a heroes’ welcome from a joyous and grateful nation,” read the statement.
Also, the ruling All Progressive Congress (APC) in its congratulatory message to the triumphant Golden Eaglets, described their performance as ‘superlative,’ adding that ‘winning the just-concluded 2015 FIFA Under-17 World Cup in Chile epitomizes the can-do spirit of Nigerians.’
In a statement issued in Abuja, Monday, by its National Publicity Secretary, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, the party also said the harvest of honours by the team is a reflection of the nation’s ongoing rebirth under the Administration of President Muhammadu Buhari, who incidentally was also the leader of the country when it won the inaugural Under-17 World Cup, known then as FIFA Under-16 World Championship, in China in 1985.
It said in addition to winning the overall trophy for a record fifth time, Nigeria also set a new U-17 World Cup goal-scoring record, with 10 goals, while two of the country’s players, Victor Osimhen and Kelechi Nwakali, emerged the top goal scorer and the best player at the tournament, respectively.
”As President Buhari has always said, Nigeria has what it takes to surmount any obstacle and to excel in all areas of human endeavour. There is no better affirmation of that statement than the fact that our young footballers have achieved a feat that no other nation has achieved – winning the U-17 World Cup five times and in grand style.
”We hail the determination, doggedness, discipline and patriotism of the Golden Eaglets and their officials, and we have no doubt that the team’s success will reverberate not only in the sports sector but in all other areas, as the APC-led Federal Government kick-starts a national rejuvenation process,” APC said.
