NFF Thumbs Up GEJ

The Nigeria Football Federation has given kudos to President Goodluck Jonathan for the excellent run of the U-20 National Team, Flying Eagles, at the on-going African Youth Championship in Senegal, recalling that it was the country’s number one man who directed that the boys be kept together and made to grow to the senior category.


“Following the triumph of the U-17 National Team at the FIFA U-17 World Cup finals in United Arab Emirates in 2013, President Jonathan instructed the NFF to keep the team together and allow the players grow through the ranks all the way to the senior team, and that he would give the NFF the needed support to do that.

“I can confirm that President Jonathan has kept to his every word and has been there with maximum support for the NFF to keep the boys together in long camping programmes and getting friendly matches for them,” NFF president Amaju Pinnick declared on Thursday.

While honouring the Golden Eaglets for their victory at the FIFA U-17 World Cup in the UAE in November 2013, President Jonathan had promised to give support to the NFF to keep the team together, so the bulk can go ahead to dominate world football and then go ahead to try and win the 2018 FIFA World Cup.

Telling performers of that squad have graduated to the U-20 team, which on Wednesday earned a place at the FIFA U-20 World Cup in New Zealand with a 4-1 win over Congo, following a 3-1 defeat of the host nation on Sunday.

“That promise has been kept and can be seen in the Flying Eagles’ superlative performances in Senegal. We thank Mr. President for being a man of his words and we assure that these boys will be kept together going to the FIFA U-20 World Cup and onwards to the 2018 FIFA World Cup finals,” Pinnick assured.