Golden Eaglets’ duo of striker Kelechi Iheanacho and Goalkeeper Dele Alampasu have been invited by world’s soccer ruling body, FIFA as part of dignitaries to witness the annual Ballon d’Or to be hosted in Zurich next year.
FIFA noted that the duo who emerged
on top of the honours’ rack at the just concluded FIFA U-17 World Cup in the
UAE have been chosen to be part of the select crowd that would witness the gala
after for winning the Adidas Golden Ball Award and Golden Gloves Award.
” On behalf of FIFA, I would like to
congratulate you once again on winning the Adidas Golden Ball Award(Iheanacho);
Golden Gloves(Alampasu) at this year’s FIFA’s U-17 World Cup in the United Arab
Emirates for the best player of the tournament,” wrote Sandra Marfurt,Head of
Special Events and Guest Management.
“We would like to end this
successful year with you and your companion as our guests of honour at the
annual FIFA Ballon d’Or gala at the Zurich. Kongresshaus on Monday, 13 January
2014.”
FIFA’s cheering news was broken to
the team on their bus ride to Abuja from Minna where they were hosted to a
dinner banquet by Chief Servant of NigerState, Governor Mu’azu Babangida Aliyu.
While receiving four of the players Kelechi Iheanacho, Chidiebere Nwakali, Chidera Ezeh and Uzoha Odinaka alongside the team’s Assistant Coach, Emmanuel Amuneke at the Government House in Owerri the Imo state capital, the governor congratulated the players for making the state and the entire continent proud in the just concluded U-17 World Cup competition in Dubai.
He said it is a great honour for the state under his administration, that out of the 26 goals scored by Nigeria at the competition, 9 goals were scored by indigenes of the state.
The governor said apart from the cash gift to the players and their coach, the state government is also giving them a piece of land each in choice areas within the capital city and also take up the responsibility of their education up to tertiary level.
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