Flying Eagles ‘School Boy’, Onuche Ogbelu at the just concluded WAFU Zone B U-20 African Qualifiers held in Niamey, Niger Republic on Thursday presented his gold medal and jersey to the Proprietor of his school Fosla Academy, Alhaji Sani Lulu Abdullahi.

Onuche who was described as a ‘game changer’ by the Head Coach of the U. 20, Ladan Bosso is an SS3 Student of the Fosla Academy.

He has since returned to school to join his mates for the on going Senior Secondary School Examinations.

Receiving the medal and jersey, the Alhaji Sani Lulu Abdullahi congratulated the player for doing the country proud, and positively projecting the school in the tournament.

He expressed his happiness on the performance of the player in tournament, and promised to support him in ensuring that his career blossom in the nearest future.

He encourage him to remain steadfast and discipline in his quest to attain greatness.

Onuche Ogbelu thanked Alhaji Lulu, describing him as a father of exceptional quality that takes pride in seeing to the success of his children. He promised to bring smiles to the faces of the Fosla Family.

Onuche is an integral member of Fosla FC participating in the NLO Division 1 League. He is also the captain of Fosla Academy team.

Flying Eagles and Water FC product Nathaniel Nwosu has been named by Confederation of African Football, CAF as the best goalkeeper at the just concluded WAFU B Tournament held in Niamey, Niger Republic.

Nathaniel Nwosu, 6.2 feet goalkeeper whose greatest strength is good timing of the ball, reflex, and as well agility in between the stick, typical of Chelsea legend, Petr Cech.

Nwosu was joined by two other Flying Eagles players in Daniel Daga and Tolulope Ojo in the team of tourney.

Nigeria defeated Benin Republic 3-1 in the final to qualify for the main championship billed for Cairo, Egypt later in the year.

No doubt, Nwosu is such a promising goalkeeper, having had a remarkable tournament in Niger Republic.

Nathaniel Nwosu, will gradually graduate to the Super Eagles in a short time. He has got all the quality needed as goalkeeper.  No doubt he is destined to be invited to the Super Eagles in the shortest time.

His height, good communication skills with the defense line and above all, such a terrific goalkeeper, when it comes to one-on-one situation.

WAFU Zone B U20 Championship winning goalkeeper, Nathaniel Nwosu described former Chelsea goalkeeper Petr Cech as his boyhood hero.

The young shot-stoper made this disclosure after guilding the Ladan Bosso’s tutored side to a 3-1 victory over young Squirrels of Benin Republic in the final of the WAFU U20 Championship played in Niamey on Friday.

An elated Nwosu said after game : ” Happy birthday Petr Cech, I’m happy you are adding another year on a day I’m winning a trophy.

“You have been my role model since aged five and I’m dedicating this trophy to you . Happy birthday my hero”

Nwosu has been likened to the former Chelsea and Rennes goalkeeper by the fans, due to his calmness and leadership qualities between the sticks.

Nathaniel Nwosu who is currently one of the best young goalkeepers in Nigeria can emulate the former Czech Republic international who spent 11 years in west London between 2004-2015, before joining London rivals Arsenal.

Water FC and Flying Eagles goalkeeper, Nathaniel Nwosu has said that the team is focused on winning the West African Football Union (WAFU) B trophy to make become the first Nigerian team to do so.

Nwosu who is one of the revelation at the ongoing 2022 U20 WAFU B championship in Niamey added that winning the title will be a morale booster ahead of the U20 African Nations Cup in Egypt.

“The goal has already been achieved by picking the U20 African Nations Cup ticket. However, winning the trophy will put our names in history book as well as a morale booster ahead of the U20 AFCON coming up in Egypt. We dont want to go back to Nigeria empty-handed. We have to go to go home with the trophy to make history.”

He thanked his team mates, the coaching crew and Nigerians for their prayers and supports.

Nigeria has not won the title since its inception in 2018.

The seven-time African champions Flying Eagles are set to play in today’s final match with Benin Republic at 7:30pm (Nigeria time)

Flying Eagles winger Ibrahim Mohammed Beji has assured football lovers back home in Nigeria that the team remains committed to achieving their goal at the ongoing WAFU U-20 Zone B championship as they prepare to take on the Young Elephants in the semifinals.

The Maikunkele FC attacker who is Nigeria’s top scorer in the competition stated that a game against Ivory Coast won’t be easy but the boys have seen clips of their games and would be prepared for the challenge on Tuesday.

“I am excited with our progress here in Niamey, we have crossed the first hurdle which is to qualify from the group and now we must take it further by going past the Les Petits Elephants in the semifinals tomorrow.

“We are aware of the threat they will bring, they won two games in their group and that’s enough for us to be wary of them, but as Nigerians, we remain determined to win and scale through to the finals of the competition.

When asked about his goalscoring prowess at the competition, the Eagle’s number 11 stated that it doesn’t matter who scores for the team but would always give his all on and off the field of play.

The Ladan Bosso led boys would take on the Young Elephants in the second semifinals on Tuesday evening with the winner of the tie advancing to the AFCON U-20 Championship proper in Egypt next year.

By: Abdulquadir Adedapo

Flying Eagles forward Ibrahim Muhammed Beji has promised not to drop his guard when they take to the field on Tuesday evening in their second game at the ongoing WAFU Zone B U-20 qualifiers in Niger as they bid to reach the semifinals of the competition.

The Maikunkele FC striker grabbed the headlines on Sunday when he scored and produced a man-of-the-match performance for Nigeria in their 2-0 win over eternal rivals Ghana to take supremacy of group B.

Speaking ahead of Wednesday’s game against Burkina Faso, the Flying Eagles winger promised Nigerians that the team would not be complacent against their opponents as they bid to return smiles to the faces of football lovers back home.

“I am happy for the way we have started here in Niger, I am grateful for the opportunity to represent my country, and scoring the first goal of the tournament even makes it special for me and my family as well.

“On Wednesday we go again in our second match, we are not in the next round yet so we would approach the game like the first, we want to win and win well to please the fans back home in Nigeria.

Muhammad further went on to praise the Technical crew led by Ladan Bosso stating that the coaches have instilled discipline and the right tactics into every member of the team.

The Flying Eagles need just a point to top group B and advance to the semifinals having defeated the Black Satellite of Ghana 2-0 in their opening game last Sunday.

Flying Eagles Forward Ibrahim Muhammad Beji produced an outstanding performance for Nigeria on Wednesday night as he scored one of the goals for the Ladan Bosso-led boys in their 4-0 trashing of Ligue 1 club side Olympic Niamey.

Having been named in the final 28-man list for the competition which begins this Friday, the Maikunkele FC striker showed his scoring prowess in the encounter as he rounded up scoring for the Flying Eagles who head into the competition is undefeated in their friendlies.

The goal further shows the strength of the attacker who had been one of the stand-out players for the Flying Eagles from their camping in Nigeria until their departure to Niger for the tournament proper.

Brought it into the squad after impressing for his Club in the NLO, Beji showed why he deserved to be in the final team with an eye-catching performance in the friendly games played in Abuja before the handlers handed him a chance to represent the country proper.

The attacker has however not slowed down with his performance as his latest goal only just proves that the handlers were right to have handed him a place in the final 28-man squad.

It is reported that Head Coach Bosso sees the player as a game-changer and would use him to unlock opponents’ defense as he bids to better his performance at the tournament following his first round exit two years ago.

The Flying Eagles are in Group B alongside defending Champions Ghana and Burkina Faso and would open their campaign against the Black Satellites on Sunday.