Pen Pix of Glory-chasing Eaglets
Posted: 2009-10-22 10:22

John Obuh has chosen 21 players to attempt to retain the Fifa Under-17 World Cup trophy for Nigeria, starting this Saturday in Abuja.

Here is a pen pix of all 21 glory hunters for the Golden Eaglets.

PLAYER PROFILES

NAME: Dami Danjuma PAUL
DATE OF BIRTH: 18/12/1992
CLUB: OUSFORD ACADEMY (NIGERIA)
HEIGHT: 1.68
WEIGHT: 65KG
First choice goalkeeper who showed great poise and agility all through the preparation period.

NAME: Aigbe OLIHA
DATE OF BIRTH: 11/02/1993
CLUB: IGBINO BABES FC (NIGERIA)
HEIGHT: 1.68
WEIGHT: 69KG
Defender with great concentration and ability. Attended Oliha Primary School and hails from Oredo Local Council in Edo State.

NAME: Mohammed Goyi ALIYU
DATE OF BIRTH: 12/02/1993
CLUB: NIGER TORNADOES FC (NIGERIA)
HEIGHT: 1.78
WEIGHT: 77KG
Lanky defender who has flair for joining the attack. Has ample experience from playing for Premier League club, Niger Tornadoes of Minna. Attended Lima Primary School and is from Kacha Local Council in Niger State.

NAME: Ogenyi Eddy ONAZI
DATE OF BIRTH: 25/12/1992
CLUB: MY PEOPLE FC (NIGERIA)
HEIGHT: 1.70
WEIGHT: 70KG
Talented midfielder who hails from Benue State in the North Central region. Attended Township Primary School, Jos.

NAME: Fortune CHUKWUDI
DATE OF BIRTH: 18/11/1992
CLUB: A & B ACADEMY (NIGERIA)
HEIGHT: 1.73
WEIGHT: 71KG
Team captain who defends with resolution. From Mbatoli Local Council of Imo State.
NAME: Kenneth Josiah OMERUO
DATE OF BIRTH: 17/10/1993
CLUB: HARD FOUNDATION (NIGERIA)
HEIGHT: 1.68
WEIGHT: 67KG
Lion –hearted defender who attended LEA Primary School, Jabi and hails from Ikwuano Local Council of Abia State.

NAME: White George AGWUOCHA
DATE OF BIRTH: 13/01/1993
CLUB: KWARA UNITED FC (NIGERIA)
HEIGHT: 1.70
WEIGHT: 71KG
One of few players in the Nigeria team who has experience from playing in the top division. Midfielder with vision and plenty of action. Helped Kwara United FC win promotion back to the top flight at the end of previous season. Hails from Irebisi Local Council of Imo State

NAME: Stanley Osaretin OKORO
DATE OF BIRTH: 08/12/1992
CLUB: HEARTLAND FC (NIGERIA)
HEIGHT: 1.71
WEIGHT: 70KG
Nicknamed ‘Little Messi’, another highly –experienced performer, who at his young age was instrumental to Heartland FC of Owerri’s qualification for the prestigious CAF Champions League final. He scored three valuable goals for the Owerri Club in the competition, and previously turned out for Insurance FC of Benin. Was in good scoring form during the team’s preparatory camp and friendly games in Qatar. Attended Police Primary School and is from Oredo Local Council of Edo State.

NAME: Abdul Jeleel AJAGUN
DATE OF BIRTH: 10/02/1993
CLUB: DOLPHIN FC (NIGERIA)
HEIGHT: 1.70
WEIGHT: 76KG
Discovered during the annual Shell Cup competition, Ajagun is on the books of Premier League returnees Dolphin FC of Port Harcourt. Visionary midfielder with a good shot. He’s from Lagos Island.

NAME: Olanrewaju Ayobami KAYODE
DATE OF BIRTH: 08/05/1993
CLUB: MARVELLOUS FC (NIGERIA)
HEIGHT: 1.69
WEIGHT: 70KG
Bustling striker who hails from Odo-Owa Local Council of Ekiti State. A fighter in the attack

NAME: Terry ENVOH
DATE OF BIRTH: 12/12/1992
CLUB: MIGHTY JETS FC (NIGERIA)
HEIGHT: 1.70
WEIGHT: 70KG
Has useful experience from playing for the crowd –pulling Jos team, which used to be in the top division. Envoh is one of the players being looked upon to deliver this championship to Nigeria. Winger who attended LEA Primary School, Tudun –Wada and hails from Nasarawa Eggon Local Council of Nasarawa State.

NAME: Chukwujike MGBAM
DATE OF BIRTH: 22/04/1992
CLUB: STANDARD FC ACADEMY (NIGERIA)
HEIGHT: 1.70
WEIGHT: 71KG
Another lion –hearted defender who attended God’s Favour International School and is from Abia State

NAME: Omoh OJABU
DATE OF BIRTH: 14/12/1992
CLUB: DOLPHIN FC (NIGERIA)
HEIGHT: 1.74
WEIGHT: 71KG
Ajagun’s team –mate at Dolphin FC. Powerful shooter who scored five in the 14-1 demolition of Qatari Sports Club in a friendly in Doha. Attended Ugwuorume Primary School and hails from Etsako Local Council of Edo State

NAME: Sani Shehu EMMANUEL
DATE OF BIRTH: 23/12/1992
CLUB: MY PEOPLE FC (NIGERIA)
HEIGHT: 1.70
WEIGHT: 70KG
Attacking midfielder who also loves to defend. Like Ojabu, hails from Etsako Local Council of Edo State

NAME: Yusuf Olaitan OTUBANJO
DATE OF BIRTH: 12/09/1992
CLUB: EMMANUEL AMUNIKE ACADEMY (NIGERIA)
HEIGHT: 1.69
WEIGHT: 70KG
Supporting striker who attended Solan Primary School and is from Ijebu-Ode area of Ogun State.

NAME: Amos Ossai IZUCHUKWU
DATE OF BIRTH: 09/12/1993
CLUB: TEAM LAGOS (NIGERIA)
HEIGHT: 1.69
WEIGHT: 70KG
One of the goalkeepers, who also showed great agility during preparation.

NAME: Obinna Emmanuel OKORO
DATE OF BIRTH: 30/12/1992
CLUB: YOUNG STARS FC (NIGERIA)
HEIGHT: 1.70
WEIGHT: 70KG
Defensive midfielder with great skill and audacity. He hails from Onicha Local Council of Ebonyi State, and attended Town School, Emene.

NAME: Edafe EGBEDI
DATE OF BIRTH: 05/08/1993
CLUB: BISALLO FC (NIGERIA)
HEIGHT: 1.70
WEIGHT: 71KG
Fast –paced winger who is one of Coach Obuh’s aces. He attended Kpesu Primary School and is from Ugelle Local Council of Delta State.

NAME: Deji Mayowa JOEL
DATE OF BIRTH: 23/11/1992
CLUB: ECO ACADEMY (NIGERIA)
HEIGHT: 1.75
WEIGHT: 72KG
Good midfielder who distributes well. From Ifelodun Local Council of Kwara State.

NAME: Ramon Olamilekan AZEEZ
DATE OF BIRTH: 12/12/1992
CLUB: FUTURE PRO ACADEMY (NIGERIA)
HEIGHT: 1.69
WEIGHT: 69KG
Another talented midfielder, from Iwajowa Local Council of Oyo State.

NAME: John FELAGHA
DATE OF BIRTH: 27/07/1994
CLUB: ASPIRE ACADEMY (QATAR)
HEIGHT: 1.69
WEIGHT: 70KG
Young John Felagha attended Kpansia Secondary School, Yenagoa and was discovered by Moses Aduku, then made the cut to be taken to the world –renowned Aspire Academy, Doha after the Nigeria finals in 2007. He joined the Nigeria team when they went for their final preparation camp at Aspire in October.


THE TECHNICAL CREW

HEAD COACH: Sam John OBUH

ASSISTANT COACH 1: Monday ODIGIE

ASSISTANT COACH 2: Abimbola SAMUEL

GOALKEEPERS’ TRAINER: Suleiman SHUAIBU

TEAM DOCTOR: Charles AGADU

TEAM PHYSIOTHERAPIST: Ejike Victor ONYEMEANU

TEAM COORDINATOR: Garba LAWAL

TEAM SECRETARY: Sirajo HASSAN

EQUIPMENT MANAGER: Shehu ADO

CAMP COMMANDANT: Oriola MICHAEL

Their faces

Why do they have to tell us which primary school they went to? Is that meant to paint them out as youngsters?

all home base player xcept john felagha,well i wish dem d best.

I have a little reservation about their age having noticed that their average weight is 70 kg and also the fact that someone among them had already played for two NPL teams

Under 17? Look at their faces again. . .oh my God! ROFL!

This team is too short and will be suspect to aerial balls, the tallest player according to those heights is just 5ft 10inches and the average is about 5ft 6. What were the selectors thinking? even the keeper is a midget.

I strongly doubt the age of this lads,its obvious they are well above 17,left for me they should all be nothing less than 25 years old,cos they averagely weight between 69 to 71 kg,all of them not one or 2 ,that in itself has already given u their age grade

I hope they are not over age?

It's an open secret that Nigeria uses overage players to prosecute and win the previous tourmanent. This is just a continuation. Some of these players have played for a couple of years in the Nigeria Premier league, that is hard to come by for a 17-year old.

I wish them the best and hope they retain the trophy.

This is the new team formed after the bulk of the team failed the test observation from the MRI scan, using an MRI scan is not conclusive but indicative.

Consequently, the parameters will be wide enough for even a 21 year old to scale through and possibly older depending on a number of variables.
How well will they do? My hopes are not high just as long as they get through the group stage, will be fine by me.

@POSTER.
There is no Local council in Imo state called Irebisi.
Please verify the actual local council for White George Agwuocha.

Chei!! That their Skipper no look under 17 oo!

Na Papa Emeka!!

Nigerian U17 Team Ma Foot. They'll probably bully their way to victory as usual. Buncha Old GrandPas. _shior

The poster who said that one of the golden eaglets players has played previously for two clubs later apologised and retracted his comments. It was just a mix up.
Good or bad, just support the eaglets.

I don't care if they are actually 17yrs or not, all I want to know is that they should win the gold

Nigeria! Nigeria!! Nigeria!!! lol

Me, i dey look myself say i no fit play ball again, but those pipo wey i dey see for that line up self senior my eldest brother

Make God help them sha

how does a kid that is under-17 get to play first team pro ball?

Wonders. You knw wat s happening in house dats why u r revealing it. Okay tell us what other countries are doing.
Let them each be 50yrs old . As long as the can make it i dont care. Yeye peaple

What i still don't understand is how a 1992-1993 kid way between 70kg-80kg

Can't they just lie about their weight too?

Looking at some of them on FIFA website and in the matches, I think PAUL (GK), ALIYU, OMERUO, MGBAM, AZEEZ and KAYODE are likely U-20 and could be close to 17 if not under. And coincidentally, most of these listed are in academies.

Majority of the others look U-23.

There is no way in hell Okoro (the attacker), Ojabu and Emvoh can be anywhere less than 26 years old. They are blatantly lying.

These players are technically good, But i dont think they can be good as late Tella's people![color=#006600][/color][font=Lucida Sans Unicode][/font]