Amuneke Lauds Resilient Eaglets After a Hard-Fought Win

Nigeria’s Golden Eaglets coach Emmenuel Amuneke has hailed his team’s performance in their 3-2 comeback win over Egypt in Kaduna on Wednesday.

The match, the first of a double header friendly at the Ahmadu Bello Stadium, lived up to its billing, as the visitors raced into the lead with two first-half goals through Mahmoud Mahbob and Walid Attid.

The new crop Eaglets ensured they retain their status as the most formidable team in the junior cadet football, with Samuel Chukwueze, Kelechi Nwakali and Sunday Alimi coming up with the hosts goals to seal victory.

Amuneke Praises Eaglets After Comeback Win.
Amuneke Praises Eaglets After Comeback Win.

“Sincerely, I thank the players for their courage to win this match despite the fact that they conceded two early goals,” Amuneke said.

“Of course, there were errors because this was the first time we were playing on a natural pitch since we had long been training on artificial surface.

“But overall, I praise them and we are going to work better for the next game on Friday.”

The Egyptians got ahead of their hosts just six minutes into the proceedings following a loss of concentration on Eaglets’ end.

Right-back Anas Mohammed hesitated to clear the ball and allowed Egypt’s Mohammed hamdy to deliver a cross for Mahbob, who simply guided the ball home.

The visitors doubled their lead five minutes later, following another lackluster defending by Nigeria- another cross was floated into the box for an unmarked Attid to head into an empty net.

Chukwueze halved the deficit on 27 minutes. He drove close to the goal area after receiving a pass from Suleiman Abdullahi, beat his markers, before delivering a powerful effort past Egypt goalkeeper Mahmoud Gad.

Nwakali scored the equaliser from a penalty, after substitute Ebere Osinachi was fouled.

Debutante Sunday scored the match-winner four minutes to the dead.

The second leg of the friendly encounter comes up at the same venue on Friday.

Both teams are preparing for their 2015 CAN U-17 qualifiers in July.