The All Progressives Congress (APC) has said the superlative
performance of the Golden Eaglets that saw them winning the
just-concluded 2015 FIFA Under-17 World Cup in Chile epitomizes the can-do spirit of Nigerians.
In a statement in Abuja on Monday by its National Publicity
Secretary, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, the party also said the harvest of honours by the team is a reflection of the nation’s ongoing rebirth
under the Administration of President Muhammadu Buhari, who
incidentally was also the leader of the country when it won the
inaugural Under-17 World Cup, known then as FIFA Under-16 World
Championship, in China in 1985.
It said in addition to winning the overall trophy for a record fifth
time, Nigeria also set a new U-17 World Cup goal-scoring record, with
10 goals, while two of the country’s players, Victor Osimhen and
Kelechi Nwakali, emerged the top goal scorer and the best player at
the tournament, respectively.
”As President Buhari has always said, Nigeria has what it takes to
surmount any obstacle and to excel in all areas of human endeavour.
There is no better affirmation of that statement than the fact that
our young footballers have achieved a feat that no other nation has
achieved – winning the U-17 World Cup five times and in grand style.
”We hail the determination, doggedness, discipline and patriotism of
the Golden Eaglets and their officials, and we have no doubt that the
team’s success will reverberate not only in the sports sector but in
all other areas, as the APC-led Federal Government kick-starts a national rejuvenation process,” APC said.
