[highlight]By Gbolahan Dada[/highlight] [highlight]…for the 4th time Beat Mexico 3 – 0[/highlight] [highlight]Laurels[/highlight] [highlight]Fair Play Award Most Valuable Player Silver Boot Best Goalkeeper[/highlight] Nigeria’s Golden Eaglets yesterday made history in Dubai by winning the FIFA Under-17 World Cup for the fourth time after humiliating Mexico 3-0 in the final. Both sides started the match on a cautious note with Mexicans desperately in search of an early lead. The team suddenly dominated the midfield and made dangerous moves towards the Nigerian goal area but it took a defensive network of the Nigerian lads to keep their opponents at bay. Desperately, the Mexicans sought to avange the 6-1 defeat which the Eaglets inflicted on them in Group F. By laying their hands on the trophy for the fourth time, Eaglets proved a better side than South American giants – Brazil. When the final whistle went in the UAE capital, fans and players alike rejoiced, fingers pointing to the sky, in what has become the traditional Nigerian celebration of: “yes, yes yes!” Mexico kept the ball for a full two minutes at the start of the game, moving it around well and making the Nigerians chase. El Tri even managed the first chance on goal after six minutes. Osvaldo Rodriguez crossed from the left, but Alejandro Diaz could not keep his close-range effort at the right side of the post. Two minutes on, Ivan Ochoa – who scored twice in their semi-final win over Argentina – saw his off-balance header pushed over the bar by keeper Dele Alampasu. The corner came to nothing for the Mexicans, but Nigeria benefitted greatly by bursting out on a classic counter-attack. Kelechi Iheanacho went literally flying up the pitch. With just one Mexican defender in position, the No 10 Golden Eaglet laid the ball for Taiwo Awoniyi who then fed it to Musa Yahaha, who had a little help from Erick Aguirre. Golden Eaglets striker, Kelechi Iheanacho emerged the most outstanding player of the FIFA U-17 World Cup when he was presented with the Golden Ball in Abu Dhabi yesterday. Iheanacho, who narrowly missed winning the Golden Boot, got an even bigger prize by being adjudged Best Player of the Competition. His teammate, goalkeeper Dele Alampasu was also amongst the award recipients as he was voted most outstanding shot stopper of the tournament. Valmir Berisha finished as top scorer with seven goals after grabbing a hat-trick in Sweden’s 4-1 bashing of Argentina in Abu Dhabi. The Third-Place game saw the 17-year-old adding to his earlier four-goal tally to emerge tournament top scorer and win the prestigious Adidas Golden Shoe. Nigerian forward Kelechi Iheanacho , who scored one goal in the final match against Mexico, finished in second place with six goals, one goal behind Berisha, while Brazil’s Boschilia won the bronze boot also with six goals but with a lesser assist ratio as against Iheanacho’s seven assists. Iheanacho could have secured the ultimate prize with one more goal in the final game, but his efforts failed to yield further dividend. THE AWARDWINNERS CHAMPIONS: Nigeria RUNNERS-UP: Mexico THIRD-PLACE WINNERS: Sweden PLAYER OF THE TOURNAMENT: Kelechi Iheanacho (Nigeria) GOLDEN BOOT WINNER: Valmir Berisha (Sweden) – 7 goals– 6 goals, SILVER SHOE WINNER: Kelechi Iheanacho (Nigeria) – 6 goals, 7 assists BRONZE SHOE WINNER: Boschilia (Brazil) – 6 goals, 3 assists GOALKEEPER OF THE TOURNAMENT: Dele Alampasu (Nigeria). FAIR PLAY: Nigeria
Posted on: Sun, 10 Nov 2013 19:39:30 +0000
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