11th AJC: Eaglets depart for Niger tomorrow

Nigeria’s Golden Eaglets to the African Junior Championship billed for Mali will tomorrow depart for the championship with a team of 21 players, 10 officials and an undisclosed number of administrative officials

The team is expected to depart by road from Sokoto for Niamey and the contigents are billed to stay at the Hotel Royale Palace, with their first two matches (against host Niger Republic and Guinea) at the Stade General Seyni Kountche, while the last match (against Zambia) will take place at the Stade Municipal, which has an artificial turf.

However, the Nigeria Football Federation, NFF in an effort to ensure a successful campaign for the Golden Eaglets had gone the extra mile visiting Niger ahead of the championship.

According to NFF’s Deputy Director of Communications, Ademola Olajire, the visit part of a strategic plan to boost the team’s stay in Niger as the NFF Director of Competitions, Dr. Mohammed Sanusi was in Niamey, capital of Niger Republic last week to meet with prominent personalities within the Local Organizing Committee and officials of the Embassy of Nigeria.

“I had meetings with the top officials of the local organizing committee of the championship, including the President of LOC, General Secretary of FENIFOOT and the Head of Competitions. Our meetings centred on accommodation and transportation of Team Nigeria during the championship, as well as accreditation of the Nigeria delegation, ticketing and other logistics.

“I also met with the top people in the Embassy of Nigeria in Niamey, with particular emphasis on ticket issues.”

Dr. Sanusi also discussed with members of the local organizing committee of the 11th African Junior Championship on the movement of the Nigeria team into Niger Republic.

“Since they are having their final training camp in Sokoto, we’re making arrangements for them to move into Niamey by road, and I have intimated the organizers and we have finalized on security arrangement for the team.”

“The Nigeria community in Niger Republic is also eagerly awaiting the arrival of the Golden Eaglets, the world champions. They have promised to give the Eaglets maximum support to go all the way and win the African trophy, which will serve as a launch-pad towards retaining the FIFA U-17 World Cup title in Chile later this year.”