Govs. Ambode, Ahmed, Wike congratulate Golden Eaglets on World Cup victory

Lagos State Governor, Mr. Akinwunmi Ambode, and his Kwara and Rivers states’ counterparts, Dr Abdulfatah Ahmed and Nyesom Ezenwo Wike, respectively, Monday, congratulated the Golden Eaglets for their feat at the just concluded Under-17 World Cup Tournament held in Chile.

The Eaglets, in the early hours of Monday, defeated the Malian side 2-0 in a pulsating final to emerge winners of the trophy for a record fifth time.

Governor Ambode, in a statement signed by his Chief Press Secretary, Mr. Habib Aruna, said the resilience of the Eaglets to go all the way to defend their title which they won in the UAE two years ago was typical of the Nigerian spirit in the face of any daunting challenge.

“This is another eloquent testimony to the fact that Nigeria is a great country with enormous potential and we can achieve anything and everything if we are united and determined towards a course or a target.”

“In the opening minutes of the final match when the Nigerian team lost a penalty, they did not lose their heads, but remained focused on the task. Even when they went two goals ahead, they didn’t allow complacency to set in. This is commendable and inspiring and I can only hope that it signals the beginning of the return to the glory days of Nigerian football”.

“On behalf of the good people of Lagos State, I congratulate the victorious team, the technical team and all the backroom staff for this feat”, the Governor said.

On his part, the Rivers State Governor, Wike congratulated  the  technical  crew and players of the Golden  Eaglets for winning the  trophy through hardwork, display  of soccer artistry  and show of patriotism during  the  World  Cup in  Chile.

Governor  Wike  expressed happiness  that the  young  footballers  and their handlers did the nation proud  during  the  competition,  noting  that  with the professionalism  displayed  by the players, most of them would become  world  stars in no distant time.

He noted that his administration will continue to promote sports as a platform  for  empowering youths in line with the state’s  New Rivers Development  Blueprint .

Already,  the Rivers State since Governor Nyesom Ezenwo Wike assumed office have played host to the Nigerian  Super  Eagles and other national teams of the country  in the state government’s bid to encourage  sporting  activities.

The governor has paid the outstanding salaries owed players of Dolphins Football Club, Sharks Football Club and Rivers Angels football club by the immediate past administration.  He has also cleared the outstanding salaries of physically challenged athletes in the state.  The governor has also invested in sports development programmes making Rivers State the sports hub of the country.

Also, the Kwara State Governor, Ahmed in his congratulatory message said the Golden Eaglets with this victory have kept Nigerians tenacity of making positive history, especially in age grade football alive, recalling that Nigeria won the first edition in China 30 years ago.

“This is a profound and unique instance of history repeating itself on a positive note, especially when it is recalled that in 30 years Nigeria has now won the cup five times. In the process, winning it back to back and throwing up all time highest goal scorer in Victor Osimhen thus earning the bragging rights as the best age grade football nation in the world”, he said.

According to the governor, on the road to victory, the World Golden Eaglets played beautiful football, with a lot of panache couched in clinical ruthlessness that made football looked simple but interesting”.

Governor Ahmed noted that Eaglets success at the age grade football was premised on unity of purpose, desire and resolve to succeed without submitting to the divisive tendencies of ethno-religious bigotry.

He, therefore, charged Nigerians to make the enduring values of selfless service, unquestionable love for the fatherland that the Eaglets’ victory underscore manifest in all aspects of their national life.

“If on the field of play Nigerians never bothered where each player comes from, if the religious persuasions or lack of it, of each player never raised any concern; if as a nation we can rally round our teams in unison without such ethno-religious biases why can’t we translate such high qualities of patriotism into other aspects of our national life”, the governor wondered.

Governor Ahmed advised the football authority in the country to ensure that the golden eaglets are properly counselled as they chart new paths in their football careers so that their dreams of football excellence on the world scale would not be aborted before take off like those of some of their predecessors.