Nigeria Begin Defence Of Title Against USA As FIFA U-17 Begins

 

The Golden Eaglets of Nigeria begin their quest to defend the FIFA U-17 World Cup in Chile.

Nigeria U-17 team lifted the 2013 U-17  world cup championships that was held in United Arab Emirate with players likes of Kelechi Iheanacho, Chidiebere Nwakali, Chidera Ezeh, Taiwo Awoniyi been among the shinning lights of the tournament.

Today we shall be revealing the squad for each African country and the players that you are to watch out for

NIGERIA U-17 TEAM SQUAD

GOALKEEPERS

1          Akpan Udoh

16        Amos Benjamin

21        Chisom Chiaha

DEFENDERS

2          Tobechukwu Ibe

3          John Lazarus

5          Lukman Zakari

14        Ejike Ikwu

MIDFIELDERS

4          David Enogela

6          Kingsley Michael

8          Samuel Chukwueze

10        Kelechi Nwakali

11        Chinedu Madueke

12        Chukwudi Agor

13        Joel Osikel

18        Edidiong Essien

FORWARDS

7          Funsho Bamgboye

9          Victor Osimhen

15        Udochukwu Anumudu

19        Sunday Alimi

20        Orji Okwonkwo

17        Osinachi Ebere.

Guinea U-17 TEAM SQUAD

GOALKEEPER

1          Moussa Camara

16        Djibril Yattara

21        Fode Conte

DEFENDERS

2          Mohamed Kourouma

3          Fode Camara

4          Moussa Soumah

5          Mohamed Camara

12        Amine Traore

17        Aboubacar Toure

MIDFIELDERS

6          Alseny Soumah

7          Morlaye Sylla

8          Karim Conte

11        Jules Keita

13        Ives Camara

15        Alhassane Soumah

18        Junior Doumbouya

FORWARDS

9          Augustin Bangoura

10        Naby Bangoura

14        Yamodou Toure

19        Sam Diallo

20        Ousmane Camara

MALI U-17 TEAM SQUAD

GOALKEEPERS

1          Samuel Diarra

16        Alou Traore

21        Drissa Kouyate

DEFENDERS

2          Abdoul Dante

3          Siaka Bagayoko

6          Ismael Traore

15        Mamadou Fofana

MIDFIELDERS

4          Dramane Simpara

5          Mamadou Sangare

8          Moussa Diakite

12        Sory Keita

13        Bourama Diallo

18        Amadou Haidara

19        Zoumana Simpara

FORWARDS

7          Sidiki Maiga

9          Aly Malle

10        Mohamed Haidara

11        Boubacar Traore

14        Mamady Diarra

17        Ousmane Diakite

20        Sekou Koita

South Africa U-17 TEAM SQUAD

GOALKEEPERS

1          Sanele Tshabalala

16        Mondli Mpoto

21        Walter Kubheka

DEFENDERS

3          Riyaaz Ismail

4          Katlego Mohamme

6          Notha Ngcobo

13        Thendo Mukumela

15        Keanu Cupido

MIDFIELDERS

2          Simon Nqoi

5          Athenkosi Dlala

7          Vuyo Mantjie

8          Sibongakonke Mbatha

10        Nelson Maluleke

11        Sphephelo Sithole

12        Wiseman Meyiwa

14        Tebogo Qinisile

20        Reeve Frosler

FORWARDS

9          Luvuyo Mkatshana

17        Khanyisa Mayo

18        Dylan Stoffels

19        Kobamelo Kodisang

Just some of the other young player that have graced this tournament in the past, we are hoping all this names will become a household in the nearest future.

Now let take a look at the groups and focus on how Nigeria and other African countries would be hoping to fair at the tournament.

GROUP A

Group A comprises of Nigeria, United States of America, Chile and Crotia.

TEAM IN FOCUS

Nigeria qualified for the world cup after they came fourth, lost the semi finals to South African also lost the third place match to Guinea. They were able to qualify because there are four slots for Africa in the tournament.

History: Winners six times; 1985, 1993, 2007, 2013.

Star players: Kelechi Nwakali, Victor Osimhen.

Coach: Emmanuel Amuneke

They are favourites to win the cup because they are a dominant side in the world cup having won it on four occasions and have only won the African U-17 cup twice, they have also got the youngest squad in the tournament with an average age of 16.42 years with the eldest being Orji Okwonkwo (17) and the youngest being Edidiong Essien (15).

Group A fixtures

MATCHDAY 1

Nigeria vs United States 17 October 2015 21:00

Estadio Nacional Julio Martínez Prádanos, Santiago.

Chile vs Croatia 18 October 2015 00:00

Estadio Nacional Julio Martínez Prádanos, Santiago.

MATCHDAY 2

United States vs Croatia 20 October 2015 20:00

Estadio Sausalito, Viña del Mar.

Chile vs Nigeria 21 October 2015 00:00

Estadio Sausalito, Viña del Mar

MATCHDAY 3

United States vs Chile 25 October 2015 00:00

Estadio Sausalito, Viña del Mar

Croatia vs Nigeria 25 October 2015 00:00

Estadio Municipal Francisco Sánchez Rumoroso, Coquimbo

Group B

England, Guinea, Brazil and South Korea.

TEAM IN FOCUS

Guinea qualified to Chile courtesy of a third-place finish at the African U-17 championships in Niger. Their squad is made up of predominantly locally-based players and will face three-time winners Brazil in their third game.

History: three appearances, 1985, 1989, 1995

Best result Fourth, 1985 

Star players: Augustin Bangoura,Yamodou Toure

Coach: Camara Hamidou

They are in a tough group, only a miracle will bring them out, but their coach has been speaking tough saying that their participation in the tournament is not to make up numbers but to win the cup.

Group B Fixtures

MATCHDAY 1

England vs Guinea 17 October 2015 20:00

Estadio Municipal Francisco Sánchez Rumoroso, Coquimbo

Brazil vs South Korea 17 October 2015 23:00

Estadio Municipal Francisco Sánchez Rumoroso, Coquimbo

MATCHDAY 2

England vs Brazil 20 October 2015 21:00

Estadio La Portada, La Serena

South Korea vs Guinea 21 October 2015 00:00

Estadio La Portada, La Serena

MATCHDAY 3

South Korea vs England 24 October 2015 21:00

Estadio Municipal Francisco Sánchez Rumoroso, Coquimbo

Guinea vs Brazil 24 October 2015 21:00

Estadio Sausalito, Viña del Mar

Group C

Teams in this group are Australia, Germany, Mexico and Argentina

Group C fixtures

MATCHDAY 1

Australia vs Germany 18 October 2015 20:00

Estadio Municipal Nelson Oyarzún Arenas, Chillán

Mexico vs Argentina 18 October 2015 23:00

Estadio Municipal Nelson Oyarzún Arenas, Chillán

MATCHDAY 2

Australia vs Mexico 21 October 2015 21:00

Estadio Municipal Nelson Oyarzún Arenas, Chillán

Argentina vs Germany 21 October 2015 20:00

Estadio Municipal Nelson Oyarzún Arenas, Chillán

MATCHDAY 3

Argentina vs Australia 24 October 2015 23:00

Estadio Municipal Nelson Oyarzún Arenas, Chillán

Germany vs Mexico 24 October 2015 23:00

Estadio Fiscal de Talca, Talca

Group D

Belgium, Mali, Honduras and Ecuador.

TEAM IN FOCUS

Mali has qualified for the U-17 world cup only thrice, in 1997, 1999 and 2001.

They qualified as champions in African after defeating South Africa by two goals to nil in the Final of the tournament held in Niger. They scored a total of 10goals during the qualifying stage to the world cup, the highest in the tournament.

History: 1997, 1999, 2001 (lost to Argentina in the quarter-final)  

Coach: Ba Baye

Star players: Aly Malle, Boubabcar Traore

They are likely to quality for the second round behind Belgium or even top the group.

Group D fixtures

MATCHDAY 1

Belgium vs Mali 18 October 2015 20:00

Estadio Fiscal de Talca, Talca

Honduras vs Ecuador 18 October 2015 23:00

Estadio Fiscal de Talca, Talca

MATCHDAY 2

Belgium vs Honduras 21 October 2015 21:00

Estadio Fiscal de Talca, Talca

Ecuador vs Mali 22 October 2015 00:00

Estadio Fiscal de Talca, Talca

MATCHDAY 3

Ecuador vs Belgium 24 October 2015 20:00

Estadio Fiscal de Talca, Talca

Mali vs Honduras 24 October 2015 20:00

Estadio Municipal Nelson Oyarzún Arenas, Chillán

Group E

South Africa, Costa Rica, North Korea and Russia.

South Africa are perennials under- achievers at this age grade competition, this marks their first appearance in the tournament which has started since 1985, they qualified by virtue of their second place position at the just concluded African U-17 nations cup. They lost in the finals to the champions to Mali who won the trophy for the first time after coming close in 1997. South Africa defeated Nigeria by a lone goal to get to the final.  

History: Debutant

Coach: Ntseki Molefi

Star Players: Nelson Maluleke, Katlego Mohamme

They are qualifying for the tournament for the first time, so they are more of a spectator than a contender, I don't fancy their chances against one time winners North Korea or two time winners Russia. Coach Molefi believes they are the underdog, so they are in the tournament to learn a thing or two tactically.

Group E fixtures

MATCHDAY 1

South Africa vs Costa Rica 19 October 2015 21:00

Estadio Municipal de Concepción, Concepción

North Korea vs Russia 20 October 2015 00:00

Estadio Municipal de Concepción, Concepción

MATCHDAY 2

South Africa vs North Korea 22 October 2015 21:00

Estadio Municipal de Concepción, Concepción

Russia vs Costa Rica 22 October 2015 00:00

Estadio Municipal de Concepción, Concepción

MATCHDAY 3

Russia vs South Africa 25 October 2015 23:00

Estadio Municipal de Concepción, Concepción

Costa Rica vs North Korea 25 October 2015 23:00

Estadio Regional de Chinquihue, Puerto Montt

Group F

New Zealand, France, Syria and Paraguay.

Group F fixtures

MATCHDAY 1

New Zealand vs France 19 October 2015 21:00

Estadio Regional de Chinquihue, Puerto Montt

Syria vs Paraguay 20 October 2015 00:00

Estadio Regional de Chinquihue, Puerto Montt

MATCHDAY 2

New Zealand vs Syria 22 October 2015 21:00

Estadio Regional de Chinquihue, Puerto Montt

Paraguay vs France 23 October 2015 00:00

Estadio Regional de Chinquihue, Puerto Montt

MATCHDAY 3

Paraguay vs New Zealand 25 October 2015 16:00

Estadio Regional de Chinquihue, Puerto Montt

France vs Syria 25 October 2015 16:00

Estadio Municipal de Concepción, Concepción.

So as Nigeria set to defend their title today, what would be your prediction? Drop them in the comment box below and the person with the correct prediction stand to win for his/her a fantastic price.

by

Adekunle Adewale (@hrhmayowa)