Golden Eaglets cruise into semi-finals at Gateway Games

Five-time world champions, the Golden Eaglets, have zoomed into the semi-finals of the football event at the 22nd National Sports Festival ongoing in Ogun State.

The Eaglets are participating in the games as part of the Invited Junior Athletes (IJA), an initiative of the National Sports Commission (NSC) aimed at exposing young athletes.

Abdulmuiz Adeleke, who netted the first goal in the 2-1 win over Edo State on Monday, came up big with a brace against Ebonyi State in Friday morning’s quarter-final encounter, which the Eaglets won 5-0 to sail into the last four.

Mohammed Imrana, scorer of the second goal against Edo State, was also among the goals, though he was unlucky to receive a red card in the closing minutes of the encounter. Destiny Samuel and Emmanuel Ochigbo were the other scorers.

On Thursday, the U-17 girls, the Flamingos, drew 0-0 with Lagos State. They lead Group B with five points, ahead of Friday evening’s final group stage clash with Enugu State, who are yet to register a point.

Delta and Lagos States are close behind the Flamingos with four points each.

Osun State leads the four-team Group A with seven points, with Ogun and Edo States on five and four points respectively.