By Tolu Atoba
The only language the world understands is football. Nothing brings people of diverse culture and religion together except football. The game of football in Nigeria has become both culture and religion hence Nigerians forget their differences, tribes, political affiliations and comes together as one to support their team whenever they’re on national assignment.
The exploits of Nigeria U-16 team (Baby Eagles) now Golden Eaglets at the inaugural edition of FIFA Kodak/JVC U16 World Championship ( now U-17 World Cup) in China 1985 sent a strong footballing message to the rest of the world thus the global village shifted and focused their attention to the most populous black nation on earth and Nigeria have not disappoint at the cadet world cup.
In this article, Sport Angle International brings the past into present by taking a look at the performance of the then Baby Eagles led by a young and talented Nduka Ugbade alongside the likes of Jonathan Akpoborie, Binebi Numa, Baba Otu Mihammed, Victor Igbinoba, Segun Fetuga, Fatai Atere and host of others who held the football world spellbound with their display and strength.
The Baby Eagles were a delight to watch with skills, flair and a willingness to attack were the three main ingredients in Nigeria’s first world title at U-16 level. The team proved their superiority in just about all facets of the game. The world Golden Eaglets coasted through the first round with a 1-0 victory over Italy, a comprehensive 3-0 win against Costa Rica and a draw with Saudi Arabia meant the Eaglets announced their presence to the world. In the quarter final game against Hungary the Eaglets stepped up and brush them aside winning 3-1. The Eaglets came up against their West African fellow Guinea in the semi final match but find their hurdle a bit tough to subdue in regulation time and had to scraped through on penalties 4-2 while in the final game played at the workers stadium in Beijing on August 11, 1985 the Eaglets triumphed over West Germany 2-0 to cart home the trophy at the maiden edition of Fifa U16 world cup thus Nigeria becomes the first African/Black nation to win a FIFA World Cup at any level.
This was a very well-balanced tournament but the Eaglets just made it their show with flair and attacking instincts the world will ever lives to remember.
Sport Angle Int'l- SAI SPORTS 