Let’s celebrate once more the guys that won the first ever world cup for Nigeria.
The U-16 Baby Eagles as they were called went to China for the maiden FIFA U-16 (now U-17) world cup. On their return after winning the trophy, they were renamed the Golden Eaglets of Nigeria. Playing in Group D, they defeated Italy by a lone goal, played goaless draw with Saudi Arabia and defeated Costa Rica by three unreplied goals. They came second in the group behind Saudi Arabia on goals difference. In the quarter final, they defeated Hungary by three goals to one and went on to defeat Guinea 4 -2 in penalty shoot out after a 1 – 1 draw in the Semis. To lift the cup, they defeated West Germany by two unreplied goals (scored by Jonathan Akpoborie and Victor Igbinoba) in the final match. This Sebastine Broadricks and Christian Chukwu tutored lads left the country unannounced but returned as heroes making the the Federal Government to name streets after them at the capital cities of their various states of origin as at then. Talk of Chukwuma Nwoha street in Owerri, Fatai Atere way in Lagos and Nduka Ugbade street in Benin city for instance.
The heroes are:
- Lucky AGBONSEVAFE
- Tenworimi DUERE
- Nduka UGBADE (Captain)
- Fatai ATERE
- Binabei NUMA
- Kingsley AIKHIONBORE
- Salisu NAKADE
- Sani ADAMU
- Jonathan AKPOBORIE
- Victor IGBINOBA
- Billa MOMOH
- Imama AMAPAKABOR
- Bauldwin BAZUAYE
- Joseph BABATUNDE
- Chukwuma NWOHA
- Mohamed YAHAYA
- Hilary ADIKI
- Dele ABUBAKAR