Delta State Governor, Dr. Emmanuel Uduaghan, has congratulated Nigeria’s Golden Eaglets for winning the FIFA Under-17 World Cup title for a record fourth time.

In a reaction to the Eaglets’ 3-0 win over their Mexican counterparts in yesterday evening’s thrilling final at the Mohammad Bin Zayed Stadium in Abu Dhabi, the United Arab Emirates, Uduaghan said the victory was a reflection of the resilience in the Nigerian spirit.

“Despite our challenges, diversity and divisions, the Golden Eaglets have shown that we are a united people and that our greatness will become manifest as we join hands in spite of all odds to build a great nation,” he said through his press secretary, Felix Ofou.

Akwa Ibom State Governor, Chief Godswill Akpabio, also hailed the Golden Eaglets, saying their success underlined the never-say-die spirit of Nigerians.

Akpabio, who is also the chairman, PDP Governors’ Forum, praised the fighting spirit of the players and the attitude of the coaching crew which he said had paid off for the team. He noted that the country had begun to regain its rightful place in international football reminiscent of the 1990s.

Akpabio said he had noticed that the team was made for success from the first game “but the comeback against Sweden, which saw them end the game 3:3 showed the resilient spirit of the team,” he stated.

The governor also commended the president, Dr. Goodluck Jonathan, for giving the necessary support to sports development, saying: “I congratulate Mr. President on another laudable landmark in sports. You would recall that the victory of the Super Eagles at the Africa Cup of Nations early this year, had marked the steady return of Nigeria’s acclaim in world football and all these are attributable to the president’s support.”

Nigeria’s Pillar of Sports, former Abia State Governor, Dr. Orji Uzor Kalu, equally congratulated the Golden Eaglets, saying in a statement signed by his Special Adviser, Oyekunle Oyewumi, that the Eaglets have made Nigeria proud by winning the title and becoming the first team to do so four times.

Oyewumi quoted Kalu as saying: “In the midst of so much gloom in the country, it is heartwarming that the boys and their coach, Manu Garba, did not lose focus but concentrated on the task before them to make the country proud.

“The victory is even sweeter when considered against the backdrop that the boys are certified to be truly under-17 and can conveniently graduate into the senior teams in the years ahead.

“Now, we are serious about rejuvenating our age grade football.”

Kalu urged the Nigeria Football Federation to ensure it keeps the team together and groom the boys into senior teams over time.

•Photo shows world champions Golden Eaglets.

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