As the Golden Eaglets prepare to take on their Malian counterparts at the final of the FIFA U-17 world cup, President Buhari has thrown in a few words of encouragement to the team in a phone conversation.
The Golden Eaglets and coach, Emmanuel Amuneke
President Muhammadu Buhari on Saturday afternoon had telephone conversations with members of Nigeria’s U-17 team ahead of their World Cup final on Sunday, November 8.
Buhari spoke with each member of the team, charging them to repeat the feat of 30 years when Nigeria became the first African country to win a FIFA tournament.
Buhari, who was military head of state at the time, charged the team to “do it again” because it will encourage Nigerians, particularly the youths.
Sani Abacha, the former head of state, started the tradition of telephone chat with the national team in 1994 ahead of the Africa Cup of Nations final in Tunisia, which Nigeria won. But Buhari’s conversation was not televised, unlike in the past.
The Golden Eaglets, coached by Emmanuel Amuneke, will play against Mali in the final in Chile, hoping to make it a record 5th win after victories in 1985, 1993, 2007 and 2013.