Ahead of the 2013 FIFA U-17 World Cup holding in United Arab Emirates, the Nigerian Minister of Sport Mallam Bolaji Abdullahi has urged the Golden Eaglets to go and win the trophy for Nigeria.

Speaking to the team shortly before their departure for the final camping exercise scheduled for Dubai, the Minister told the players and officials that Nigerians and indeed the Federal Government of Nigeria is fully in support of their quest. He met the team at the Murtala Muhammed Airport in Lagos coincidentally.

 “There is no doubt that this is a divine meeting because we did not arrange to meet here and I want to use this opportunity to thank the coaches for the job well done so far because I have been following all your activities.

“I want to remind you of the call by President Goodluck Jonathan to go and win the World Cup when you came back from the CAN Under-17 Championship in Morocco with the Silver medal and we believe you can do it.” He said.

The Minister also urged the players to always remember that they are ambassadors of Nigeria, hence the reason why discipline should be their watchword.

“As young athletes you need discipline to excel and I want you to be disciplined in your conduct at the World Cup.”

Responding on behalf of the team, Head Coach Manu Garba (MFR), thanked the Honourable Minister for his unwavering support to the Golden Eaglets through the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF), pledging that the players would as usual, do everything humanly possible to bring honour to the country.

A team of 25 players and 10 officials departed the Murtala Muhammed International Airport on Monday aboard Emirates Airline for Dubai on a two-week training camp ahead of the October 17 kick off of the 2013 FIFA Under-17 World Cup.

The Golden Eaglets are drawn against the defending champions, Mexico, Iraq and Sweden and are ready to follow on the works of their illustrious predecessors that won the trophy in
1985, 1993 and 2007 all in Asian Countries of China, Japan and South Korea respectively.