Nigeria crashed out of the global tournament in surprising fashion following a crippling 3-1 defeat to the Netherlands early on Wednesday morning.
The Golden Eaglets are undoubtedly the most successful team at the FIFA U17 World Cup, and the reasons are not so farfetched, Soccernet.ng reports.
No country has won the U17 World Cup more times than Nigeria, with the country’s cadet team having lifted the trophy in the years 1985, 1993, 2007, 2013, and 2015. That’s two more than any other country in the world.
And having earned an additional three silver medals in 1987, 2001 and 2009, no country can boast of winning more U17 World Cup medals than Nigeria. Only Brazil comes close with 7 medals.
Nigeria’s record in the U17 World Cup is always a delight to read. In only 11 previous appearances, the African side had amassed 5 Gold medals, 3 Silver medals, 4 Golden Balls (Philip Osundu, Sani Emmanuel, Kelechi Iheanacho, and Kelechi Nwakali), 3 Golden Boots, 1 Golden Glove, 4 Fair Play Awards, 26 goals in a single competition (2013), and tournament’s highest ever goal scorer – Victor Osimhen (ten goals).
The hunt for a record sixth world title began on a pleasant note with coach Manu Garba’s boys forcing a 4-2 comeback victory down the throat of Hungary. A similar trick was repeated in a 3-2 come-from-behind win over Ecuador days after.
And it appeared as though another free-scoring Nigeria side was destined to rule the world yet again. Especially with the history books revealing that every time the Golden Eaglets had won their first two matches of an U-17 World Cup tournament, they went on to reach the final after replicating same feat in 1993, 2001, 2007 and 2015.
But that was as far as the good times lasted. Australia ambushed the Eaglets in the last group game and sent the highflying Nigerians crashing back down to earth with a well-deserved 2-1 win.
It was the very first time that the Aussies would defeat Nigeria in the U17 World Cup after 7 attempts, with Nigeria triumphing in each of the previous 6 meetings.
It was also the very first time that the Golden Eaglets had conceded 6 goals in the group stage of an U17 World Cup.
The defensive frailties were obvious but not much improvement was noticed when Netherlands, one of the lucky knockout stage qualifiers, faced the Eaglets.
Against the young Oranjes, the Golden Eaglets conceded 2 goals in the first 15 minutes of an U-17 World Cup match for the first time in the history of the competition.
And by the time the final whistle was blown, Netherlands’ Sontje Hansen had ruffled the Nigeria net thrice to become the first ever player to score a hat-trick against Nigeria at the U17 World Cup.
The 3-1 defeat to the Dutch side also marked the first time that a Nigeria teen team would lose 2 consecutive matches at the U17 World Cup and the first time the Golden Eaglets had lost 2 matches in a single edition of the World Cup.
It was an ignominious way to exit a tournament that promised so much but delivered so little.
*All facts provided by Opta Nigeria.
This post was last modified on %s = human-readable time difference 7:07 am
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Just imagine how GARBA and his below average players destroyed all de record set by our past heros.....
They hav wasted our oil money and are coming back empty handed......
When will diz coaching work be given to de blessed pple of niger-delta?.....
I hav been watching, evry time it is either HAUSA-FULANI or YORUBA or IGBO......
Football is not politics, NFF pls change diz mentality and allow other tribes to come in and handle one of de under-age team and see de outcome.....
Somebody like ETIM ESIN(former super eagles player) served diz country and deserve to be given an opportunity.....
Tribalism is killing football in nigeria......
So many dark issues going on behind the scenes at the Glass House, I believe.
But we shouldn't reduce all the problems down to just tribalism.
Nigeria will get it right soon.
Mr lmhons Erons, thank you for this. Sad indeed !
However, this piece should have been titled, "The history of the Golden Eaglets" or "The rise (or flying) and fall (or crawling) of the Golden Eaglets."
Looking at the title, l was expecting to read about the ugly facts behind the Golden Eaglets premature exit ... or should we take it that the only reason was the poor defence line ?
Your points are valid and noted. I did consider many titles before deciding on this one.
And yes, the defensive frailties played a huge part in the losses that sent the Eaglets packing. I intentionally emphasized that.
Thanks for your observations, though.
I know there we not go far ... because under 20 boys mess up too so who to blame is the Head of the system...that is bihari
Nothing good comes out of corruption and selfishness. If the head is corrupt, then the whole body down to the soles of the feet will be corrupt. How can a bad seed produce good fruit? From independence, Nigeria was built on a foundation of corruption. Azikiwe, Amadu Bello, and Awolowo all 3 men laid the foundation ofor corruption. Each was a wealthy property owner in his region of Nigeria. There is nothing to celebrate about this men. Their souls should rot in hell. They are dead but we the children suffer from their sins.
This is why today from Buhari to NFA officials to Manu Garba to the players all are corrupt. What good can you expect from a country whose president is receiving healthcare from a foreign country, and the vice president flies in an official government jet to that foreign country only to take documents for the president to sign. Sick and cursed country.
Wow! A. Bello, N. Azikwe, O. Awolowo to rot in hell? Just because of a poor performance in recent U 17 World Cup, such write up shouldn't have seen light of the day here.
You can not win all the time, that's sports for you, you win some you lose some. Lets hope the players will do well in the f/e and s/e in future. Chi dave
Many Garba was implicated in taking bribes since u17 afcon tourney.
Has the situation changed or did he change?
How can something good come into that so called Nigeria?while an innocent person's blood are being wasted every day by day by the so called leaders and their gunmen and rest of them is a pity. Chidi
People's blood are crying very heavily in that zoo country called Nigeria chidi
So the tournament of a thing is not all about the coach or the players!the bad luck is from the useless alcotic,devilish and demonic ritualist that called themselves leaders of that nation Nigeria. Chidi