The National Under-17 team extended their unbeaten run to 10 matches Friday after a comprehensive 5-1 defeat of City Football Club of Calabar - a Nationwide Division One team.
City FC, who replaced Akamkpa United for the game that kicked -off midday at the St. Patrick College, put up early resistance but it was always going to be a question of time before they were ‘run down’ by the Golden Eaglets.
In the 5th minute, the Eaglets expectedly took the lead via a header by Isaac Success off a brilliant pull out.
But City mounted pressure and were rewarded almost immediately with a cheeky penalty that was, however, well converted by Kingsley Victor who incidentally, is the captain of his side.
That affront by City was like touching a tiger on the tail as the Eaglets turned on the offensive and what followed was a rush of goals.
Kelechi Iheanacho grabbed a brace in the 26th and 42nd minute while Muazzam Ibrahim capped a virtuoso performance with two goals in the 24th and 63rd minute.
The Eaglets virtually dominated their supposedly superior opponents for the remainder of the game but failed to convert the numerous chances that came their way.
City even failed to capitalise on their numerical strength after Eaglets’ Ifeanyi Matthew was sent off for a rough challenge on his shadow midway into the second half
Dr. Emmanuel Ikpeme, the Director Technical of the NFF who is watching the Golden Eaglets for the first time, commended the players for a job well by greasing their palms with a gift of N100,000.
“Though this is the first time I’m watching you since you started camping in Calabar but I’m so impressed with your performance today (against City FC),” said a visibly happy Ikpeme.
“This shows that the coaching crew as well as the backroom staffers have been doing a tremendous job. But having said that, I want to tell you that you have not yet arrived.
"Football is strictly business and Nigerians are expecting so much from you starting with your first game against Niger in September.
“I’m giving you a token of N100, 000 so that you can have some refreshment during the Sallah break but please, don’t rest on your oars yet,” he added.