Nigeria’s Future-Eagles
Nigeria’s national under-15 boys football team, the Future Eagles, on Sunday lost their final game at the U-16 International Dream Cup in Japan 2-1 to their Romanian counterparts.
Romania’s Robert Todol scored in both halfs to give his team victory over the Nigerian boys.
Egesionu Sopuruchukwu, who was impressive in the four-team tournament, scored Nigeria’s lone goal in the second half.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the Future Eagles started the competition on an impressive note by thrashing Mexico 3-1 in their opening game.
They, however lost 1-4 to hosts Japan in their second match before the 1-2 loss to Romania in their last match.
Head Coach of the team, Haruna Ilerika, told NAN shortly after the match that the tournament was an eye-opener for his young boys.
In a telephone interview, he said the team was not out to win at all cost but to expose and develop the young players.
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NAN reports that the Nigerian contingent of 18 players and eight officials is expected back in Nigeria on Tuesday.
Hosts Japan won the tournament, winning all their three matches, defeating Romania 4-2 on penalty kicks, after edging out Nigeria 4-1 and thrashing Mexico 5-0 in their last match.
The competition which started on June 12 ended on Sunday.(NAN)