Chairman of TEE & TIFE Oil Limited, Toyin Sodipo, has charged the national cadet team, the Golden Eaglets, to win the FIFA under 17 World Cup slated to begin in Chile this weekend.

Urging Coach Emmanuel Amunike’s team to work hard to retain the trophy won by Nigeria in 2013, Sodipe said the U-17 World Cup had brought
more honours to Nigeria than any other sporting event, as the country has won it on four occasions.

He recalled, “this tournament first unveiled Nigeria’s sporting potential when the Nduka Ugbade-led team won the inaugural edition in 1985 in China.
“I remember names like Fatai Atere, Bella Momoh and Jonathan Akpoborie, among others, became the toast of soccer fans in Nigeria.

“Two years later at Canada 87, we got to the final but poor officiating cost us victory against the then Soviet Union. Kudos must be given to late Sebastian Brodricks, who was the chief coach on both occasions. Six years after that, we triumphed in Japan beating Ghana 2-1 in a pulsating final featuring the players like Nwankwo Kanu, Celestine Babayaro, Festus Odini, and Blessing Anyanwu, akong others. The successes recorded in 1985, 1993, 2007 and 2013 demonstrated Nigeria’s supremacy in the age grade tournament.”

Sodipo is of the opinion that the team will do well in Chile 2015 having undergone a playing tour of Argentina.

The team will face Croatia, USA and host Chile in Group A.

He added: “The Chief coach, Emmanuel Amuneke, was the assistant coach at the last edition, which we won and he knows what it takes to deliver at this
stage. He has been at this level since 2012 and to me he is up to the task.”

Sodipo appealed to Nigerians not to put the team under pressure but rather offer encouraging words to the team.