FIFA U-17: Nigeria 2009 Update, Monday, Nov., 09

Korea U-17 1-3 Nigeria U-17: Eaglets Set Up Rematch Against Spain In World Cup Semis

Nigeria defeated Korea 3-1 at a jammed Jerry Esuene Stadium in Calabar on Monday night to set up a rematch with Spain, who they beat two years ago to win the FIFA Under-17 World Cup. The Eaglets will face Spain in Thursday's semi-final at the Teslim Balogun Stadium in Lagos. READ MORE

Spain U-17 3-3 Uruguay U-17: Spain Advance To World Cup Semi-Finals On Penalties



Spain beat Uruguay 4-2 on penalties after scores were tied at 3-3 after extra-time, securing progress to the semi-finals of the FIFA Under-17 World Cup in Nigeria. Uruguay's Jose Laureiro blasted his penalty wide of target, while team-mate Gabriel Mezquida saw his kick saved by Spain goalkeeper Edgar, nullifying Pablo Sarabia's miss for the Europeans. A ding-dong battle saw Spain go 3-1 up, though their opponents fought bravely back late on. READ MORE

Language, Smiles Endear Nigerians to Swiss Players

Though Switzerland is officially a French and German speaking country, the strong bond between the Swiss U-17 side and Nigerian fans has been partly narrowed down to the ability of the former to communicate in English, the official lingua franca of Nigeria. Aside the Golden Eaglets for obvious reason, Switzerland has been one of the few sides that have been able to attract local support on consistent basis at Nigeria 2009.Coach Dany Ryser's side has ridden the crest wave on the strength of the support of Nigerian fans by reaching the semi final of the FIFA U-17 World Cup in only their first appearance in the tournament. READ MORE

Nigeria send Korea home *To meet Spain in semis

Hosts Nigeria moved a step closer to their second-straight FIFA U-17 World Cup title, beating Korea Republic 3-1 in their quarter-final to set up a mouth-watering last-four contest with European powers Spain. The last match of these finals from the U.J. Esuene Stadium in Calabar was played amid a party atmosphere as the home side put on a show of edging the talented Asians. The Nigerians came out flying from the start, roared on by a lively packed house of adoring local fans. Abdul Ajagun had them out of their seats after only two minutes, too, but his shot from a tough angle could only shave the outside of the back post. READ MORE

FIFA Update

THE DAY REPLAYED - Monday's two quarter-final showdowns at Nigeria 2009 had a little bit of everything: goals, suspense, twists and turns and tears, lots of tears. In keeping with a knockout phase that has served up some spectacular entertainment for the fans flocking to the country's stadiums, Spain and Nigeria prevailed in two gripping encounters that confirmed their pre-eminence in the category and teed up an intriguing semi-final on Thursday. Remarkably, the two sides are both unbeaten in their last 12 games in the competition, a run that stretches back to Finland 2003 and includes the final at Korea 2007, which the Africans won on penalties. Spain and Nigeria now have the opportunity to go for the title again after respectively edging out Uruguay and Korea Republic in a pair of absorbing quarter-finals. READ MORE

Daniel Lists Gains of Hosting World Cup Matches

Ogun State would build on the many gains of its hosting of some of the matches of the Under 17 World Cup to consolidate the use of sports as an instrument of socio- economic development. Governor Gbenga Daniel stated this at the Gateway International Stadium Ijebu Ode on Sunday shortly after the quarter-final match between Italy and Switzerland. He said the State had used the opportunity of hosting the World Cup to improve its infrastructure which included new road network, rehabilitation of old ones, street light and upgrading of the facilities of the Stadium which apart from its state of the art facilities now has two astro turf training pitches. READ MORE