FIFA U-17 World Cup: Key stats and numbers behind Nigeria’s 5th triumph

Nigeria successfully defended their crown at the FIFA U-17 World Cup Chile 2015 having been blessed with an outstanding team packed with talented players.

The likes of Kelechi Nwakali and Victor Osimhen may have attracted all the spotlight, but kudos must be given to every member of the Emmanuel Amuneke-led Golden Eaglets who beat the odds to set new bars at the tournament.

SoccerNet Nigeria shares the key stats and numbers behind Nigeria’s fifth triumph at the FIFA U-17 Championships.

1 – This is the first time the Golden Eaglets will be winning the FIFA U-17 World Championships outside Asia. Nigeria’s four previous triumphs came in China ’85, Japan ’93, Korea ’07 and UAE ’13.

2 –Nigeria successfully defended their crown at the FIFA U-17 World Cup Chile 2015 making them the second side ever to achieve such feat. Only Brazil share such honours with the Eaglets.

3 – Three Nigerian youngster have now won the Golden Shoe Award with Victor Osimhen following in the footsteps of Wilson Oruma 1993 (6 goals) and Macauley Chrisantus 2007 (7 goals).

4 – Kelechi Nwakali claimed the Golden Ball Award, making him the fourth Nigerian to be named the tournament’s best player at the FIFA U-17 World Cup.Philip Osondu1987,Sani Emmanuel 2009, and Kelechi Iheanacho 2013 are the other winners.

6 – The Golden Eaglets skipper, Kelechi Nwakali picked up the Golden Ball award after making six telling impacts with his three goals and three assists at the tourney.

7 – Africa is the most successful continental zone with 7 tournament wins (the Golden Eaglets of Nigeria alone has 5 of those. Ghana has claimed the other two.)

8 – Nigeria is now the most successful nation in the tournament’s history, with five titles and three runners up.

10 – Hot shot, Victor Osimhen scored ten goals in just seven matches to win the Golden Shoe Award. It’s the most number of goals ever scored in a single tournament by an individual, beating the previous best of 9 goals set by France’s Florent Sinama Pongolle and Ivory Coast’s Souleymane Coulibaly.

11 – Nigeria was the top scoring team at Chile 2015 with 23 goals. Only Germany (24) in 2011 and a Kelechi Iheanacho-inspired Golden Eaglets (26) in 2013 have scored more in the tournament’s thirty year history.

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