Golden Eaglets Triumph: A story of cheats,liars and bullies.

Record: Golden Eaglets soared to their fourth World Cup title

Nigeria once again won the FIFA U-17 World Cup to make it a record four times and bring much needed joy to a nation devoid of anything to celebrate these days. A huge feat achieved that was carried out by absolutely 'brilliant' players who showed there is indeed footballing talent in our great country. The Eaglets swept all before them convincing displays and ‘maturity’ way above their age. They scored a total of 26 goals, 6 of which were scored by the impressive Kelechi Iheanacho. While the country celebrates their triumph, i'm a bit irritated and sad ( yes sad!!!) because i know they didn't deserve their triumph because they cheated their way to the top and bullied honest countries out of the way. Its been a scourge that has affected our football since forever and simply does not pay off in the long run. Before you readers bite my head off, i'll give my reasons why i'm disgusted with the Golden Eaglets.

First things first,how did these guys pass the MRI test? FIFA claim they run tests on all participating players to determine their ages but apparently that test was waste of time. I can only draw two conclusions; 1. The MRI scan doesnt work. 2. Our boys used Juju to beat the machine. Because seriously i dont need a machine to tell me those guys are not less than 23-25 years and that's giving them the benefit of the doubt.According to FIFA records, the likes of Iheanacho, Success Isaac, Abdullahi Alfa are just 17 while other players like Habib Makanjuola, Abulazzez Abubakar are the youngest at just 14. My God are FIFA dumb or what? Iheanacho 17? Its freaking hilarious!!!

Golden Boy: Ihenacho was the best player in UAE

Someone pointed out that their jerseys are bigger than them hence they have to be young. I debunked it with a simple explanation; they are simply malnourished. Rooney looked 22 when he was 17 because he fed well. Im not saying only Nigeria cheats. All African countries cheat while i raised my eyebrows at the South American players who looked rather old. The Europeans in my opinion looked really young especially the Russians and the Swedes. Some say u cant judge someone's age by their face but believe me if u line up 10 people, i can give an accurate age range of at least 8. My age range for these Eaglets...... well lets just move on. No wonder by the time these guys play the U-20 tournament, they flunk out simply because their real age has caught up with them and cant play at that level. Its easy to bully a 17 year old or younger. Its not if u dealing with a 20 year old.

After an Under 17 game in 1999, on the back of walloping the Japanese 9-0, the Japan coach Philippe Troussier said he saw one of the Nigerian U 17 players enter a taxi with his “wife and two children” Its time we stopped deceiving ourselves and get real.

Faded Out: Chrisantus Macauley won the golden boot in 2007 but has struggled since then

My biggest problem is the longevity of these 'world beaters'. How many of these players shine at these competitions but fizzle out 2 years later? Where are the likes of Chrisantus Macauley,Ganiyu Oseni, King Osanga who all rocked South Korea 2007? These guys should be 23 years or so yet they seem to have vanished off the face of earth. The likes of Rafeal, Danny Welbeck, Danny Rose, Victor Moses, David De Gea, Asier Illaramendi all played that tourmamet and today line up for the top teams in Europe.There is a minute number of these players that make the Super Eagles like Kanu Nwankwo, Victor Ikpeba, Wilson Oruma, Celestine Babayaro who somehow managed to line up for the senior team. I can bet that the current
crop of Eaglets will never make the national based on recent history and lets face it no European club wants to buy a 30 year old claimig to be 18. So where do they end up? Obscure soccer coutries like Singapore, Finland or India. Its damaging our football but everyone seems to be okay with cheating and win at all cost attitude even if it means lining up 25 year olds to bully innocent teenagers.

Im a big admirer of the system set up by the Europeans. The German team is currently made up of players who represented the junior teams and worked their way up to the senior team.

Sami Khedira and Mesut Ozil came throuh the youth system

Mesut Ozil, Manuel Neuer, Sami Khedira, Mats Hummmels, Marcel Scmelzer, Jerome Boateng were all part of triumphant UEFA U21 Championship in 2009. Many of those players went on to play at the 2010 World Cup in South Africa just a year later. That is a country that is serious about football and not just interested in winning so that the the government can give the lands and cars. Spain is another brillaint example who are known for their youth system.

Basically all their senior players at one time played for the junior teams and if i remember correctly the likes of Xavi and Casillas came to Nigeria in 1999.They are fit as fiddle and still play football at the two biggest clubs in the world. Toni Kroos, Haris Seferovic,

Granit Xhaka, Isco, Mario Gotze, Neymar, Pablo Sarabia were all present at the 2009 U-17 World Cup in Nigeria and now play for the senior national team. Before i continue rambling,

Buffon and Totti are still making headlines after 20 years

Francesco Totti and Gianluigi Buffon may have finished bottom of the group with the Italian Under 17 team in Japan 93, but fastfoward 20 years, There's still no party without Totti and Buffon remains one of the best goalies in the world.

I'm sure u get my point now.

I wish these current Eaglets good luck. While i'm certain they will end up like them Chrisantus Macauley, i can only hope they prove me wrong. The debate about age cheats is getting old and over flogged so by now the NFF should know the right thing to do but i can only conclude they refuse to do it. Its winning them trophies but in the long runs wins us nothing. Shame on them and shame on Nigerians for celebrating mediocrity and cheating. It just proves we have no redeeming quality.

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