Golden Eaglets assistant coach, Nduka Ugbade, has blamed the match officials for the sudden ouster of the Nigeria U17, after losing 3-1 to the Junior Menas of Niger on Saturday.
The reigning world champions, which failed to progress to the final round of qualifiers for the 2017 Africa U17 Cup of Nations won the first leg two weeks back, and needed only a draw atleast, to reach the final round, but that became unachievable.
Ugbade, who was a part of the team that won the 2013 FIFA U17 world cup in the United Arab Emirates further disclosed that the home team ambushed the team on the pitch and also confiscated their electronic devices, which could have allowed Nigerians see the way they were treated in Niamey on Saturday.
He added that the NFF General Secretary, Dr. Mohammed Sanusi was not spared either in the VIP Box as he was badly assaulted, even in the presence of Nigeria Diplomatic officials led by Ambassador Abduljelil Sulaiman.
Striker Sidibe Assoumanu gave the host the lead in the 36th minute with a pile drive just outside the box that beat a poorly positioned goalkeeper Adeleye Adebayo.
Usman Musa Babalolo meanwhile got the equalizer with a header barely a minute to the end of first half.
The second half began with much drama as the Camerounian referee Henry Duvalier Mouandjou Kalla gave the host a freaky penalty in the 48th minute, which was converted by Mamane Bello.
From then, it looked like Mountain Everest for the Eaglets to climb with repeated foul calls by the referee. With minutes left to play, the host got yet another funny free kick just outside the box which was converted by Issaka Magaji.
"This is a daylight robbery and cannot be defined in any other way because all the officials worked jointly and fully against Nigeria," lamented Golden Eaglets' assistant coach Nduka Ugbade.
"What would the Nigeriens and the officials of the match be teaching their kids at home? In all my life in football, I have never seen this kind of drama but Nigerians would not be able to see the match as all our cameras were seized."
The reigning world champions, which failed to progress to the final round of qualifiers for the 2017 Africa U17 Cup of Nations won the first leg two weeks back, and needed only a draw atleast, to reach the final round, but that became unachievable.
He added that the NFF General Secretary, Dr. Mohammed Sanusi was not spared either in the VIP Box as he was badly assaulted, even in the presence of Nigeria Diplomatic officials led by Ambassador Abduljelil Sulaiman.
Striker Sidibe Assoumanu gave the host the lead in the 36th minute with a pile drive just outside the box that beat a poorly positioned goalkeeper Adeleye Adebayo.
Usman Musa Babalolo meanwhile got the equalizer with a header barely a minute to the end of first half.
The second half began with much drama as the Camerounian referee Henry Duvalier Mouandjou Kalla gave the host a freaky penalty in the 48th minute, which was converted by Mamane Bello.
From then, it looked like Mountain Everest for the Eaglets to climb with repeated foul calls by the referee. With minutes left to play, the host got yet another funny free kick just outside the box which was converted by Issaka Magaji.
"This is a daylight robbery and cannot be defined in any other way because all the officials worked jointly and fully against Nigeria," lamented Golden Eaglets' assistant coach Nduka Ugbade.
"What would the Nigeriens and the officials of the match be teaching their kids at home? In all my life in football, I have never seen this kind of drama but Nigerians would not be able to see the match as all our cameras were seized."
Nduka Ugbade: Nigeria U17 Were Ambushed, Robbed In Niamey
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Reviewed by Unknown
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