Golden Eaglets get royal blessing

The Golden Eaglets of Nigeria have been charged to win the Africa U-17 Championship by the Sultan of Sokoto.

His Eminence, Alhaji Muhammadu Sa’ad Abubakar IV, has charged the junior national team to bring the trophy home after praying for the team’s successful outing at tournament holding in Niger between February 15 and March 1.

The national U-17 team, who are in Sokoto to finalise their preparation for the tournament, paid a courtesy visit on the Sultan in his palace on Monday at the behest of Kogunan Sakwatto, Mallam Danladi Nasir Bako – the state commissioner for information.

The Sultan, who is a keen follower of the game, advised the youngsters to be disciplined and focus on the assignment at hand.

“I’m very happy to receive on behalf of the hospitable people of Sokoto and I want to believe this is the first time some of you are coming to the palace,” the Sultan said.

“In fact, this is the first time we are hosting a national team here at the palace and I’m particularly delighted to formally welcome all of you to the palace as this would afford you the opportunity to know that the Sultan is a human being like you.”

He further counselled officials to continue to play fatherly roles to the players who he warned “to obey without question”.

“We want you to be good ambassadors of this country when you go to Niger and personally, I want you to go and bring the trophy again to Nigeria. But even as you do this, you must be disciplined and listen to your coaches because without discipline you cannot achieve much even as a footballer.”

Both coach Emmanuel Amuneke and captain Kelechi Nwakali took turn to thank the Sultan and the palace chiefs for finding time out of their busy schedule to host the team, promising to do everything possible to conquer the continent.