Sports and Youth Development Minister, Chief Sunday Dare has again advocated that Nigeria must emulate the successful model of the Senegalese FA, in youth football if Nigeria is to reclaim its status as a power house in the round leather game on the African continent and globally.
Chief Dare was speaking to a section of the Sporting media, moments after the nation’s Under-20 men’s team, the Flying Eagles thrashed the Under-20 Azzurris of Italy 2-0, in their second group match of the FIFA U-20 World Cup finals, in Argentina.
“The victory speaks to the situation that there’s no killing the Nigerian spirit. The scoreline shows the strength of this team we had doubts in their ability. Hope this team will continue in this light in Argentina and subsequently graduate to the Super Eagles”, an excited Chief Dare posited.
After coming from a goal down to edge the Dominican Republic 2-1, the Ladan Bosso tutored side have now punched a ticket to the quarterfinals with a match against Brazil to spare.
Nigeria’s best showing in this tournament came in Saudi Arabia in 1989 when the team coaches by Tunde Disu lost 1-2 to a star studded Portugal side; and in 2005, when Samson Siasia’s well oiled side fell 1-2 to Argentina that was led by mercurial Lionel Andres Messi.
