Nigeria’s Future Eagles battle Morocco in Rabat

The U15 National Team of Nigeria, known as Future Eagles, will today and Thursday play two international friendly matches against their Moroccan counterparts in Rabat, Morocco.

Both teams will slug it out at the National Football Centre, Rabat starting from 4pm today, and again clash at the same venue on Thursday from mid-day.

The U15 squad and their officials arrived in Rabat on Sunday, and have had three training sessions at the National Football Centre ahead of the friendly games.

Before flying to Morocco, the team visited the corporate headquarters of Zenith International Bank, NFF’s major sponsor on youth football, where they met with the Group Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer, Mr. Peter Amangbo and members of his Management team.

The players were selected from the pool that emerged from the inaugural edition of the NFF/Zenith Bank Future Eagles Championship held in Ijebu-Ode, Lagos and Abuja in the last quarter of 2016.

NFF 1st Vice President and Chairman of the NFF Youth Development Committee, Barrister Seyi Akinwunmi, who is head of delegation in Morocco, told Extra Time that he is delighted with the composure and discipline of the players.

“I have been with the boys for a couple of days and I am happy with their general attitude. I can see discipline, dedication and humility, and I can also see ambition.

“These matches are just friendly sessions but I believe the boys will gain tremendously from the experience,” he said.

Prior to the trip to Morocco, Coach Jolomi Atune ran the rule over some of the promising talents in the country at a get-together in Abuja for one week.

The Future Eagles drew 2-2 and 1-1 with Sunshine Academy Kaduna and Pepsi Academy respectively before traveling to North Africa.

Kelechi Iheanacho (Leicester City) and Taiwo Awoniyi (Liverpool) had represented this age group before they were elevated to the Golden Eaglets.