Seuol (SK), Sept. 9, GNA - Nigeria's National U-17 team, the Super Eaglets raised the name of Africa high in South Korea when they defeated Spain 3-0 on penalties in the finals to lift the ultimate trophy in this year's World Cup U-17 tournament.
The victory of Nigeria soothed the pain the Black Starlets of Ghana suffered in the hands of Germany on the same pitch as they joined in the victory celebrations. It was a sight to observe as African and Korean fans openly expressed their joy and sung praises to Africa and Nigeria for lifting the ultimate cup.
Nigeria's victory brings to five the success story of Africa for triumphing over other continents to lift the cup at the World Cup youth level with all the five victories shared between Ghana and Nigeria. The only continent to have lifted the cup three times is America but then it is specifically Brazil, a South American country who managed to achieve that feat all.
The record therefore means that the European countries are yet to catch up with Africa in terms of juvenile soccer while the senior teams of Africa too are yet to come closer to winning the World Cup. Soccer fans in Korea had earlier predicted an all Africa final but the Starlets under the command of coach Sellas Tetteh last Wednesday disappointed Ghanaians and Korean fans by losing 1-2 to Spain.
Luck they say sometimes can work in football. Spain after holding Nigeria for a total 120 minutes to a barren finish, failed to score all their three penalty kicks, which sent them wandering on the pitch in tears.
Nigeria on the other hand converted all their first three penalties and went ahead to stare at the cup as Spain's Fran Merida walked leisurely towards the spot kick and rolled the ball into the waiting hands of Oladele Ajiboye in posts for the Eaglets.
Even Ghana had indeed missed the cup, Africa had triumphed and the lads have a consolation that at least is bound for West Africa.
Ghana's mid-fielder Ransford Osei stood tall among others as he won the second place for the FIFA Adidas Silver Shoe Award with six goals to his credit with Nigeria's Macauley Christiantus winning the ADIDAS Golden Shoe with seven goals and Toni Kroos taking the ADIDAS Bronze Shoe award with five goals.
Toni Kroos from Germany won the ADIDAS Golden Ball Award, followed by Christiantus with ADIDAS Silver Ball with Bojan Krkic of Spain wining the ADIDAS Bronze Ball awards. Costa Rica won the Fair Play Award.
FIFA President Sepp Platter presented the cup to the victorious Super Eaglets team who are set to host the next event in 2009 in Nigeria.
Most fans and media personnel embraced the Nigeria and Ghanaian journalists as they congratulated Africa for lifting the cup for the fifth time.
