Nigeria’s under-17 men’s national team arrived in the city of Al-Ain on Tuesday ahead of their 2013 Fifa World Cup campaign in the United Arab Emirate.
The coach Manu Garba-led team concluded their training tour in Dubai at the Higher Colleges of Technology premises on Monday and embarked on the 98km journey by bus to their new home at Al-Ain Dinat Resort Hotel, all within Dubai.
On hand to receive the team on arrival at the hotel, which also hosts other Group F teams, were officials of the Local Organising Committee (LOC) and that of Nigeria’s Embassy led by Mr. Edward Tamtam Kogbara, Minister (Protocol and Economic Matters): Mr. Paul Onwuemene amongst others.
On arrival, Golden Eaglets coach Garba joined other Group F counterparts from Iraq, Sweden and Mexico in a formal welcome ceremony organized by the LOC, which involved the cutting of a huge cake.
“They have put us (Nigeria) in the top right corner on the cake and by the grace of God, we shall come out on top of this group,” Garba said.
The team, as well as their officials received a certificate of participation for the tournament, during a meeting held within the hotel premises.
Fifa officials were on ground to cross check passports for the process of accreditation at the end of which all the players were certified okay.
Meanwhile, four players failed to make the final cut for the 21-man squad expected to represent the three-time champions of the Fifa Under-17 tournament.
The quartet of Adeyinka Adewale, Clement Ogbobe, Godwin Odibo and Olumide Akofe were not listed for the finals.
In the meantime, the squad will train twice on Pitch 3 a the Khalifa Bin Zayed Stadium today.
