Nigeria’s National Under-17 Team, Golden Eaglets on Friday arrived
safely in Sokoto to round off their preparation towards the
forthcoming 11th African U-17 Championship starting next week in
neighbouring Niger Republic.
Coach Emmanuel Amuneke led a team of 25 players and eight other
officials to the historic seat of the Caliphate aboard Arik Air which, departed Abuja International Airport at 10:40 am and landed at the Sultan Saddik Abubakar Airport at 11: 25 am.
The team was welcomed by a strong delegation from the Sokoto Football Association board, led by its chairman, Mallam Muhammed Nasiru Saidu.
Others on his entourage include Mallam Sanusi Bello; Bashar Muhammed; Murtala Abubakar; Abdulrahman Muhammed; Ibrahim Ladan; secretary to the Sokoto FA, Garuba Hassan and other football stakeholders in the state.
The Golden Eaglets were advised to enjoy their stay as they firm up their preparation towards the continental cadet championship. The weather condition in Sokoto is similar to what is obtainable in Niamey at this period with a temperature fluctuating between 40°C and 41°C.
Coach Amuneke said he was happy to be in Sokoto again since his last visit 24 years ago with the national U-23 team for a friendly
match ahead of the Cairo ’91 All Africa Games Soccer Tournament.
“We are happy to come down to Sokoto for our final preparation for
Niger 2015,” he told the press on arrival.
“We want to use this opportunity to thank the government and the people of Sokoto as well as the Nigeria Football Federation, NFF, for giving us the platform to come to Sokoto and we are ready to work harder in the days ahead.
“Although, it is very hot, coming down to Sokoto few days to our first game in Niger would surely help us and we just have to go
through this in order to achieve our objective,” he reasoned.
Meanwhile, the Golden Eaglets have already settled into their Giginya Coral Hotel camp with arrangement already put in place for them to begin their training in earnest.