Nwakali relishes Nigeria’s win
Iheanacho adjudged Best Player Amazing to win a World Cup at such a young age, says forward
abu dhabi — Nigeria’s Kelechi Iheanacho was adjudged the Best Player of the Fifa Under-17 World Cup which concluded in Abu Dhabi on Friday night.
Iheanacho, Nigeria’s hero in the 6-1 demolition of Mexico in their tournament opener, won the adidas Golden Ball. Iheanacho scored six goals and had seven assists. It was adjudicated by members of the Fifa Technical Study Group. Brazil’s Nathan and Mexico’s Ivan Ochoa were second and third respectively.
Iheanacho had scored four goals in that game, and also scored one in the final against Mexico at the Mohammed bin Zayed Stadium on Friday night. He had also scored a hat trick against Congo back in April, to help the Golden Eaglets qualify for this competition.
Swedish striker Valmir Berisha, who fired a hat-trick in their 4-1 win against Argentina in the third place play-off, won the adidas Golden Boot. Berisha topped the goal scoring chart with seven. Iheanacho finished with six, while Brazil’s Boschilia had six goals and three assists.
Nigeria goalkeeper Dele Alampasu won the adidas Golden Glove, while Nigeria also took the Fifa Fair Play Trophy.
“I don’t know if I can find the words to say what I’m actually feeling. I can’t even tell what I’m feeling,” Iheanacho said. abu dhabi — After jumping up and down, dancing and celebrating on the pitch, like how young boys usually do, he sat there, watching, wondering. He looked around at the bunch of journalists assembled in the Press conference room. He felt like he was venturing into another planet. It was all new to him. He hadn’t been in such a situation before.
Put into the spotlight, he went shy, but smiled. Just moments ago, Chidiebere Nwakali had become what normal 17-year-olds wouldn’t have — a World Champion.
Nigeria defeated title holders Mexico 3-0 to win the Fifa Under-17 World Cup at the Mohammed bin Zayed Stadium on Friday night. It was Nigeria’s fourth title, with all four coming in Asia.
But it was yet to sink in for Nwakali. Finally, it did. “I’m happy to be world champion. It is amazing to win a World Cup at such a young age,” blurted Nwakali, with a smile that would surely evoke a similar reaction from anyone.
“I would like to thank our coaches and the staff for discovering our talent,” added Nwakali, who, unlike other players from other football nations, who are already with clubs, parades his wares for Shuttle Spots Academy, back home in Nigeria.
Meanwhile, coach Manu Garba called it an incredible feeling. “I would like to thank God for a suc- cessful tournament. We were prepared well for this tournament. We were unbeaten, scored 26 goals and conceded five, which is incredible. It was great football by this Nigerian side,” said Garba.
Garba said that he had belief in this bunch of players and knew that they could do it. “I had belief in their talent when I picked them from the academies. The boys have been very disciplined. (Success) Isaac was not part of the 40 players that I had selected. He came from nowhere and came for the selections and impressed me,” he said.
He said that it was one of the best final he was part of. “Mexico gave a good account of themselves. It was one of the best final I’ve seen,” Garba said.
The goal-hungry Nigeria missed a couple of opportunities and could have won by a much bigger margin.
“My players were anxious to score more goals. I told them if they were close to scoring, to keep their composure. We missed a couple of opportunities but overall, we played well,” he said.
Nigeria were unbeaten throughout the tournament and destroyed all before them with a truly dominant performance. “It showed we have the character and technique to play at this level,” he added.
Garba said that this bunch of players will form the Under-20 squad in the future. “This is the nucleus of the Under-20 squad. We have to keep faith in this bunch and we will have a better team in the Under-20 level,” said Garba.
“Celebration will end. We will concentrate on building this team to the next level. By the time they graduate in two years or so, mistakes will be minimal,” he added.