As Nigeria begins the defence of the FIFA Under-17 World Cup today in Abuja, football fans here are anxious to see the team that has been assembled by coach John Obuh. Sink or swim, one player Nigerians are eager to see perform is Stanley Okoro.

Coach Franklin Howard has said that Nigeria has the capacity to defend successfully the FIFA U-17 World Cup if the nationalU -17 team could go the extra mile of showcasing an improved and sharpened talents that the world has come to associate Nigeria with over time well here on home soil, as the Nigeria 2009 U-17 World Cup gets underway today with the Eaglets engaging their German opponents in Abuja.

AS the Golden Eaglets begin the defence of the FIFA U-17 World Cup title they won in South Korea in 2007 and chase history in the competition with Brazil, the first captain of the Eaglets who won the maiden edition of the competition in China in 1985, Nduka Ugbade has made one wish, that the trophy does not leave Nigeria.

I can still remember, vividly, Group captain Anthony Ikazoboh’s comments at halftime on the 11th of august 1985 in Peking china.
“Boys, you are 45 minutes away from making history. Remain firm and don’t lose this chance”.

Despite growing concerns about the Green Eagles wobbly performance in the 2010 qualifying series, two former players, Christian Chukwu and Bright Omokaro have expressed their desire to see the team berth at the event holding on Africa soil for the first time next year.