BUHARI TO REWARD 85 EAGLETS 30 YEARS AFTER

President Muhammadu Buhari on Tuesday assured the
Golden Eaglets team that won the maiden FIFA
Under-17 World Cup in China in 1985 that his
administration would fulfil the promises he made to
them 30 years ago.
Buhari, who was Head of State, had promised the
team houses and scholarships during a reception in
honour of the players at Dodan Barracks, Lagos, in
celebration of the victory.

Nduka Ugbade, who was the captain of the team, was
the only player in the China ’85 FIFA Under-17 World
Cup squad that progressed to win a major title for
Nigeria at the senior level. The former Spain-based
defender won the Tunisia ’94 Africa Cup of Nations.
He assisted Manu Garba to guide the Golden Eaglets
to the UAE 2013 FIFA Under-17 World Cup triumph.
Baldwin Bazuaye and Jonathan Akpoborie also
graduated to the Super Eagles. Bazuaye was in the
squad that won silver at the Algiers ’90 Africa Cup of
Nations. Akpoborie won bronze at the Senegal ’92
Africa Cup of Nations.
But the likes of Hilary Adiki, Fatai Atere, Binebi Numan,
Joseph Babtunde, Salisu Nakande, Victor Igbinoba,
Tonworinmi Duere, Lucky Agbonsevbafe, Bella Momoh,
Chukwuma Nwoha, Sani Adamu and Dele Abubakar
failed to progress in their careers. Defender Kingsley
Aikhionbare died in the United Kingdom.
Sebastine Brodericks-Imasuen was the head coach
while Christian Chukwu was his assistant.
The Senior Special Assistant to the President on
Media and Publicity Garba Shehu said in a statement
on Tuesday that the President was not happy that his
directive to state governments to reward the Eaglets in
1985 was not complied with.
“It is a pity that those promises were never fulfilled. It
is unfortunate that our players, who did us proud on
the world stage, went unrewarded for their efforts,
despite a presidential directive to the state
administrators that they should be honoured in their
home states,” the statement quoted Buhari as saying.
The statement said the Federal Government fulfilled
its own commitment by sponsoring the players to
Mexico to watch the 1986 World Cup.
He added that the promises of houses and
scholarships and naming of streets after each player
were supposed to have been taken care of by the
states.
The statement noted that shortly after the promises
were made, Buhari was overthrown and that despite
repeated pleas made to succeeding governments by
the players and their officials, some of the promises
were not fulfilled.
“I apologise for whatever embarrassment and
disillusionment in your country these raised and then
dashed hopes may have caused you. My government
will do all within its power to remedy the situation,”
the statement quoted the President as saying.