Nigeria's national U-17 team, the Golden Eaglets raised the name of Africa high in South Korea when they defeated Spain 3-0 on penalties in the finals to lift the ultimate trophy in this year's World Cup U-17 tournament.
The victory of Nigeria soothed the pain the Black Starlets of Ghana suffered in the hands of Germany on the same pitch as they joined in the victory celebrations.
It was a sight to observe as African and Korean fans openly expressed their joy and sang praises to Africa and Nigeria for lifting the ultimate cup.
Nigeria's victory makes it three for Africa’s most populous nation and brings to five the continent’s haul of the coveted cup at the Under-17 level with all the five victories shared between Ghana and Nigeria.
Brazil, from South American has also lifted the cup three times.
The record therefore means that the European countries are yet to catch up with Africa in terms of juvenile soccer while the senior teams of Africa too are yet to come closer to winning the World Cup.
Soccer fans in Korea had earlier predicted an all Africa final but the Starlets under the command of Coach Sellas Tetteh last Wednesday disappointed Ghanaians and Korean fans by losing 1-2 to Spain in the semi final encounter. The Starlets again fell to Germany 2:1 in the third place game.
Spain after holding Nigeria to a barren finish after 120 minutes, failed to score any of their three penalty kicks.
Nigeria on the other hand converted all their first three penalties.
Nigeria's Macauley Chrisantus won the ADIDAS Golden Boot with seven goals, followed by Ghana's mid-fielder Ransford Osei, six goals for the silver and Toni Kroos from Germany taking the bronze with five goals.
Toni Kroos won the ADIDAS Golden Ball Award, followed by Chrisantus and Bojan Krkic of Spain in that order.
Costa Rica won the Fair Play Award.
FIFA President Sepp Platter presented the cup to the victorious Super Eaglets team who are set to host the next event in 2009 in Nigeria.
