Golden Eaglets Land In Sokoto

THE national U-17 team, Golden Eaglets, arrived in Sokoto Friday to begin their final preparation towards the forthcoming 11th African U-17 Championship starting next week in neighbouring Niger Republic.

  According to a statement by the team’s Media Officer, Morakinyo Abodunrin in Sokoto, “Coach Emmanuel Amuneke led a team of 25 players and eight other officials to the historic seat of the Caliphate aboard Arik Air.’’

  The team departed Abuja International Airport at 10.40a.m. and landed at the Sultan Saddik Abubakar Airport at 11.25 a.m.

  The statement said the team was welcomed by a delegation from the Sokoto Football Association Board led by its Chairman, Malam Muhammed Saidu.

  It stated that the Golden Eaglets were advised to enjoy their stay as they firm up their preparation towards the continental cadet championship.

  The weather in Sokoto is similar to what is obtainable in Niamey at this period with a temperature fluctuating between 40°C and 41°C.

 According to the statement, Amuneke says he is 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. 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.

  “Coming 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 said.

  According to the statement, the team is in Giginya Coral Hotel camp with arrangement already in place for them to begin their training sessions.

The Golden Eaglets will face hosts Niger, Guinea and Zambia in Group A.