Golden Eaglets' striker Orji Okonkwo
has described his 35-yard screamer which fetched
second goal for Nigeria in the 4-2 defeat of Mexico in the semi finals of the FIFA U-17 World Cup
as his best ever.
Okonkwo had played minor part in the
tournament until fate thrust him into the fray, as replacement
for Funsho Bamgboye who was suspended after two
yellow cards. The boy grabbed the bull by
the horns to score what is known in
Nigerian football parlance as 'intercontinental ballistic missile.'
Nigerian football parlance as 'intercontinental ballistic missile.'
"I have never scored a goal like
this before and you cannot practice this kind of goal," admitted Okwonkwo, the first boy in a family
with six other children. The goal I
scored against Mexico today is a wonderful goal and I'm
dedicating the goal to my mum who has been there for me; challenging
me to be the best.
dedicating the goal to my mum who has been there for me; challenging
me to be the best.
"My dad died last year; I
remember him too but it is my mum that has
been there for me all this while. I thank her so much," he said.
been there for me all this while. I thank her so much," he said.
Okonkwo, is one of the team’s
pacesetter performers who scored thrice, including a goal against Mali on April 21, 2014, at the
sub-regional West African Football Union (WAFU)
B Tournament in Togo where the Golden
Eaglets finished third behind Benin and Togo.
Over 21,000 spectators including NFF
President Amaju Pinnick, saw
Okonkwo’s top -of -the -drawer goal but there was another person on his
mind when his lively shot sailed into the net: Emmanuel Amuneke.
Okonkwo’s top -of -the -drawer goal but there was another person on his
mind when his lively shot sailed into the net: Emmanuel Amuneke.
"Today, I want to thank Coach
Emmanuel Amuneke for pushing me so
hard," said the player, who was sanctioned and kept out of the squad for
months prior to the African U-17 Championship in Niger Republic.
He continued: “He is a nice person
who wants the best for us. Beforehard," said the player, who was sanctioned and kept out of the squad for
months prior to the African U-17 Championship in Niger Republic.
the match, he called me and said: 'Orji, this is your chance, you can't avoid to let yourself and Nigerians down' and when I scored, I kept saying 'coach, coach, coach’. I’m grateful to him,” added the teenager who is two-time winner of the annual Karanka Reveria Invitational Tournament in Croatia in 2013 and 2015 with Abuja Football College.
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