Captain of Nigeria’s U-17 team, Kelechi Nwakali, has expressed his excitement over the team’s defence of the 2015 FIFA U-17 World Cup title in Chile.
Nwakali said he was happy with his Golden Ball award at the competition, which ended on Sunday.
The Golden Eaglets became the second team to successfully defend their U-17 title defeating Mali 2-0 in the second all-Africa final in the history of the tournament. They had won the title in 2013 and successfully defended it in 2015. Brazil were the first team to do so. They were champions in 1997 and 1999.
“I thank God for the opportunity to win this award, it means so much. Playing in the final is the dream of every young player. To play in a World Cup final and win the trophy is amazing. Not just winning it, but defending it,” Nwakali toldFIFA.com.
The attacking midfielder, who also won the tournament’s Bronze Shoe, attributed the team’s success in Chile to hard work.
“Right from the game against the USA, when we arrived in Chile, our aim was to defend the trophy. We believed the only way we could do this was hard work. We approached each game with hard work and seriousness. Any team that came to Chile worked for it.
“We believed that when it came to U-17 level, the teams have been there and are worth it. Even though we have to come from behind in a match, we knew we had to work hard, that is our philosophy.”
Also, Nwakali’s teammate, Victor Osimhen, became the record highest goalscorer of the competition after his first goal of the final. The Nigerian scored 10 goals in Chile 2015 to beat the previous records of nine goals set by Frenchman Sinama Pongolle and Ivorian Souleymane Coulibaly in 2001 and 2011.
The forward, who also won the Silver Ball, expressed his happiness at the achievement.
“I want to thank coach Emmanuel Amuneke for what he has impacted in us and I’m also grateful to my teammates who helped me to break the record,” Osimhen was quoted as saying by thenff.com.
“The Golden Boot is also dedicated to my sister, who just had a baby girl.”
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