Eaglets Beat Gabon 5-0 In Calabar, Qualify For African U-17 Championship

By Tunde Eludini

Nigeria’s U-17 team, the Golden Eaglets, are through to next year’s African U-17 Championships scheduled to take place in Niger Republic as the Eaglets thrashed their counterparts from Gabon 5-0 today, Saturday at the UJ Esuene Stadium in Calabar.

The result was more than good enough for the Eaglets who only lost 2-1 in the reverse fixture a fortnight ago as they pulled through by a 6-2 aggregate score line.

The comprehensive win by the Nigerian youngsters was understandably heart warming for the fans in Calabar as well as Coach Emmanuel Amuneke who has persistently stayed positive that his lads would qualify despite their first leg defeat.

In Saturday’s thrilling encounter, it was Captain Kelechi Nwakali that secured the opener for the Eaglets scoring from the penalty spot with barely two minutes into the game.

That was the needed tonic for the Eaglets who were all over their opponents and increased their lead through Ebere Osinachi who made it two for Nigeria and added another one before half time.

The Eaglets were far from done as they added two more goals in the second half, both goals coming from substitute Kehinde Ayinde who made sure that the Eaglets seal their place at next year’s cadet Championships in neighboring Niger with a 6-2 aggregate score line.

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