Diamond Boys Did Well Says Eaglets Gaffer

Nigeria national U-17 side, the Golden Eaglets continued their preparation towards their forthcoming 2015 Under-17 Championship qualifiers with a 3-0 win over Diamond FC of Umuahia.

The Umuahia team, Diamond FC had in 2013 played twice with the Golden Eaglets squad that conquered the world at the FIFA U-17 World Cup, UAE 2013, they were beaten  5-1, 5-0 at that time.

The Amuneke tutored side who were second runners up at the WAFU-B under seventeen tournament held in Togo early this year have always dealt with teams from the domestic scene and the friendly against Diamond FC wasn't any different from what is expected. Promise Orji, Suleiman Abdullahi and Jack Ipalibo all scored a goal each in the friendly played in Calabar on Friday June 20th.

Ex-International and coach of the Eaglets, Emmanuel Amuneke though praised the opponent but requested that his team needs more quality friendly to keep his team in the right frame of mind ahead of the task ahead. 

"Diamond gave us a good fight but we played much better in the second half and I'm happy with the response of the players to a tougher opponent like this," reasoned Amuneke.

"We need more quality matches like this in order to put our players in good shape for the task ahead.'' Amuneke suggested. 

Diamond FC looked much more improved in their play compared to what they offered in 2013 where they were trashed 5-1,5-0 in the two previous opportunities they had with the Eaglets class of 2013 but despite their gritty play, Promise Orji in the 14th minute put the national team in front when he followed up with a lively shot after Ebere Osinachi's was rebounded into play. 

Almost immediately, Diamond FC goal keeper, Lucky Jimoh did enough to stop Chinedu Madueke's effort to increase the tally. The Eaglets defence got a couple of stings from Diamond's tormentor-in-chief, Stanley Kanu and at a point Eaglets goal keeper, Amos Benjamin was forced to make a save as the first half dragged to an end. 

Both teams maximized the purpose of the friendly match as new players were introduced in the second half,  Eaglets made seven changes while Diamond made just four changes but towards the end of the energy-sapping encounter, Suleiman Abdullahi capitalized on a defensive slip-up in the Diamond 's box to slot home Eaglets' second  goal while Jack Ipalibo  continued with his rich vein of form as his shot was deflected into the roof of the net for Eaglets' third.