Minister of Youth and Sports Development, Mr. Sunday Dare said the country is happy with the performance of the Under 20 National Team, otherwise known as the Flying Eagles.

He made this disclosure on Monday when the Federal Ministry of Youth and Sports Development hosted the team to a reception on arrival from Cairo, Egypt.

The minister said the team didn’t know that he was in Egypt when they played Gambia. “I was in Egypt and watched your match against Gambia, even though you lost, you showed character.

“When you won the WAFU B cup, I knew you were going to do something. Thank you because you did not disappoint us. Thank you because you did not come back empty, you came back with a bronze, it shows that you are one of the top teams on the continent,” he noted.

Mr. Dare concluded, “The world cup is not a joke, you have to do more than you have done in the African Youth Championship, AYC because you are going to be meeting the best in the world.”

The President of the Nigeria Football Federation, NFF, Alhaji Ibrahim Gusau said they are happy with the team and they treasure the fair play award because they exhibited good character.

Mr. Ademola Olajire who represented the NFF President said the players wouldn’t have gotten the world cup tickets and bronze medals without the support of support of the minister, the permanent secretary and other officials.

His words, “The Flying Eagles have come to say thank you for making it possible for them to qualify for the world. We believe the time has come to finally lift the world cup.”

Recall that the Flying Eagles won the fair play award and two players made it to the CAF Best X1. Three of the Flying Eagles also won the MVP awards on three different occasions.