2011 Award-winning Journalist, media officer, National U 17 team of Nigeria. PR/Marketing Communications Expert, Father/loving Husband of Uduak. Totori yo sef.
Nduka Ugbade, coach of the Golden Eaglets in a warmth embrace with Siyabonga Mabena, the MVP.
"You have a very bright future in football. Allow me to hug please," says Nduka Ugbade.
The young Mabene was simply amazed by Ugbade's gesture.
Unbelievable!
"It is still unbelievable that I made the Golden Eaglets team to 2023 AFCON U17 Tournament." Adewale Quadry, Golden Eaglets defender. God will continue to bless Coach Nduka Ugbade.
@thenff
Has he come to stay or na 'waka pass' ?
I think he has come to stay
@NGSuperEagles
and he will continue to improve his game.
His name is Fisayo Dele- Bashiru, former Flying Eagles midfielder at the 2019 FIFA U20 World Cup in Germany.
@thenff
What do you think?
My brief chat with Michael Dokunmu...
How are you doing?
Ba wo ni? in Yoruba language.
He replied : " Sorry, I can't speak Yoruba language, but my Daddy speaks the language fluently.
Dokunmu is a South African U17 player of Nigerian descent.
Don't give up...
Temi, Richard and Gift.
Temi and Gift only came to try their luck when the camp opened in January as they were not on the official list of players invited, but their hardwork has been rewarded.
Richard is the one in the middle.
@thenff
JSS 3 Eaglets attacker speaks...
"We will play as a team. Defend as a team and attack as a team. We hope to convert our chances into goals because that will be better for us," Charles Agada, JSS3 Eaglets' striker at the pre - match press conference today.
@thenff
Eaglets in psychology class...
Psychology class powered by Dr. Robinson Okosun of
@thenff
technical department.
Kudos to the NFF for the great privilege.
Algeria AFCON U 17 tournament ...
The Golden Eaglets will undergo the mandatory MRI test today in Algiers, Algeria.
All the players registered for the tournament have all gone to d hospital for d MRI test.
The team is likely to travel to Constantine after the MRI today.
@thenff
Update from Eaglets camp...
NFF registered 26 players for D tournament.
On match days,21 players will be on D list, D remaining 5 players will be on standby.
Any of d five players earlier on standby could make the list for next game, depending on what the coach wants.
@thenff
I am happy to score my first goal for Nigeria, says Charles Agada.
"I thank the coaches and my teammates for what happened against South Africa."
"I pray that we will continue to make Nigerians happy with our performance in the tournament," he said.
Last friendly game before leaving Nigeria...
Eaglets vs Pride FC.
Venue : MKO Abiola Stadium, Abuja.
Date : Saturday, 22 April, 2023.
Kick off : 7.45am
@thenff
@NGSuperEagles
Behold your Golden Eaglets (Part 2)
5. Rapha Adams - Sporting Supreme
6. Destiny Samuel - Dominion Sports Academy
7. Ibrahim Damilare Abdulganiyu - Hero Power Academy
8. Qurib Adetola - Derby Football Academy
@thenff
@NGSuperEagles
Behold Sir Mickee...
This Emmanuel Michael, Eaglets' left back. He is very hardworking and humble. He is highly respected by his fellow teammates that they call him "Sir Mickee"
"I will keep on working hard and improving my game. It was a tough game, but Alhamdulillah ( to God be the glory) for the victory," Abdulmuiz Adeleke, who scored a brace said.
@thenff
@NGSuperEagles
Update from the Golden...See the progression of Oreoluwa Agbenla
@Beyond_LimitsFA
to the Golden Eaglets.
1st Photo: Oreoluwo in 2021
2nd Photo: Oreoluwa with a teammate in same 2021.
3rd Photo: Oreoluwa in 2023
4th Photo: Oreoluwa in Golden Eaglets 2024.
@thenff
@NGSuperEagles
I feel much relieved after I scored against South Africa, says Abdullahi Abubakar.
"I scored 3 goals in WAFU last year. We will not underrate Burkina Faso but play our game with a strong mentality to win as our coaches have taught us," he said.
Update from Golden Eaglets camp...
SS1 student to captain the Golden Eaglets. Simon Karshe Cletus is a product of Mavlon FC of Lagos. You can see his progression the photos below.
"I look forward to having a very good tournament here in Algeria like the one the team had at WAFU B U17 tournament in Ghana last year, says Emmanuel Michael.
Simon Cletus wins back to back MVP. He was voted MVP against Burkina Faso and Niger respectively.
It ended Nigeria 1 - 0 Niger.
Congratulations, Nigeria.
Viva Golden Eaglets!
@thenff
@NGSuperEagles
Still on Golden Eaglets
@thenff
This is the 1st time that SS1 student will captain the team. His name is Simon Cletus ( Dada). Mavlon FC, well done. Thank you,Manu Garba and Kudos to Ibrahim Gusau led board of the NFF. Dada attends Palm Ville College, Lagos.
@NGSuperEagles
Yours truly, with the Eaglets' Cordinator and some of the players after the team defeated Pride FC 5-1 at the MKO Abiola stadium in Abuja on Saturday.
@thenff
@NGSuperEagles
Golden Eaglets are WAFU B U17 Champions after defeating Burkina Faso 2-1 in the final.
Congratulations, NFF.
Kudos to Nduka Ugbade, his crew and backroom staff.
Thank you, Nigerians.
It will surely get better.
Foreign clubs clamour for Golden Eaglets defender, Yahaya Lawali.
Despite the shock elimination of Golden Eaglets by Burkina Faso, Lawali has generated interest from some European and North African clubs. He is among the CAF 11 in U-17 AFCON in Algeria.
AFCON U17...
It is Nigeria vs Burkina Faso in the quarter- finals.
Thursday 11th May, 2023.
Burkina Faso came back from a goal down to dump Cameroon 2-1 out of the tournament.
Benjamin Fredrick out...
Benjamin Fredrick, Flying Eagles' central defender, will not feature against Brazil.
The rugged defender got a yellow card in the first game against Dominican Republic, and he will not be risked against Brazil.
@thenff
Viva Nigeria!
Breaking news...Eaglets thrill CAF with excellent MRI test results
20 Golden Eaglets players registered for WAFU B U17 Championship passed the MRI Tests conducted by CAF on Sunday. The players are all ELIGIBLE to play at the tournament. Kudos
@thenff
Bravo Coach Manu Garba.
I salute my people. Una well done.
Today is rest day for the Golden Eaglets. Training continues tomorrow.
We thank God for everything.
@thenff
@NGSuperEagles
Golden Eaglets...
The team came back to Abuja, Nigeria from Accra, Ghana yesterday to the glory of God. We thank God for not leaving WAFU B U17 tournament empty handed and we remain very hopeful of a colourful future for these young teenage footballers.
Update from Eaglets' camp...
“The game is going to be very interesting. At the WAFU B tournament, we had Togo, Ivory Coast, Ghana, Niger and Burkina Faso. We did well to beat Burkina Faso 2-1 in the final.
Feeling the groove with the Golden Eaglets of Nigeria.
WAFU B champions will tackle Zambia U 17 team, the COSAFA champions in the opening group B game next week Sunday.
The team will depart Abuja, Nigeria tomorrow (Sunday) for Algiers, Algeria.
@thenff
@NGSuperEagles
Update
@NGSuperEagles
camp...
Five players have just arrived the airport in Uyo. Semi Ajayi, Calvin Bassey, Bright Osayi-Samuel, Frank Onyeka and Paul Onuachu.
@BafanaBafana
must fall on Friday.
@thenff
Behold your Golden Eaglets (Part 1.)
1. Cletus Simon from Mavlon FC, Lagos.
2. Daniel Vowero Arierhi from Beyond Limits Academy, Ogun state.
3. Edward Oloche Ochigbo - Sporting Lagos
4. Abdulwaris Yunus - Derby Academy, Abuja
@thenff
@NGSuperEagles
Eaglets' camp gist...
"We respect Burkina Faso, very good team. The team loves to play and never gives up.
“We hope to win the game. We will work very hard, play to the instructions of our coaches, and win the game to qualify for the World Cup.” Emmanuel Michael.
Golden Eaglets players and their officials have settled down at 5 - Star hotel in Algiers.
Algerians are routing for the Eaglets to scale the hurdle of Burkina Faso.
Eaglets will train this evening ahead of their quarter - final game against Burkina Faso on Thursday at 8pm.
Nduka Ugbade said at the press conference on Tuesday that he sees Nigeria, Morocco and Zambia qualifying from Group.
Behold Naija and Zambian guys grooving.
Point of correction...
Fisayo Dele - Bashiru did not play for Flying Eagles at the 2019 FIFA U20 World Cup in Germany. It was his elder brother. Thanks
@Magnus57693218
for the correction.
Morocco land Constantine for U - 17 AFCON...
Morocco U17 team has landed Constantine, the city that will host Group B games at the 2023 U-17 AFCON, which kicks off this Saturday.
@thenff
@BCSports5
@9ja_footballers
To God be the glory.
Landed safely in Paris, France to cover the 33rd Olympics.
Special thanks
@FIFAcom
and Paris 2024 Olympics organising committee for this special priviledge to a Nigerian international journalist.
Bordeaux on my mind.
Super Falcons vs Brazil.
@thenff
We've come a long way ...
Yours truly with Rasheedat Ajibade, Nigeria's rave of the moment during her days as U 17 player of Flamingos of Nigeria.
This was early 2016 when I was still working as Head, Reportorial at Sports Radio Brila Fm 88.9.
Photo Credit : Tony Bekederemo
The stranded players due to NLC strike
Maduka Okoye, Semi Ajayi, Bright Osayi-Samuel, Calvin Bassey, Frank Onyeka, Alex Iwobi, Ademola Lookman and Paul Onuachu.
The players are already in Nigeria, but could not connect flight from Lagos to Uyo.
@thenff
@nassnigeria