SUCCESS UNSUCESSFUL RUN AT FIFA UNDER 17 WORLD CUP: How Injury took the Shine Out of the Nigerian Young Star

Two Matches, 2 goals! Nigerians were still waiting to see how Manu Garba’s Goal Scoring Machine, Isaac Success, will unleash his shooting power in the on going FIFA Under 17 World Cup in United Arab Emirate (UAE).

Success was the highest goal Scorer at CAF under 17 African Championship. He scored 8 out of the 18 goal record set by Golden Eaglets at the championship earlier this year. Manu Garba, Coach of the Nigerian side once said, “We’ve lost count of how many goals Success has scored so far. May be, it could be estimated at an average of 2 goals per game, in both training and game situations.”

Garba was so sure he has unearthed another world class star for Nigeria, and was so excited to unveil him to the world at UAE.

However, Success combine partner Kelechi Iheanacho took the first game by his stride, scoring 4 goals, while Success was only able to score 1 goal out of the 6 – 1 defeat handed down to Mexico.

Success was to return in the second game to score in the 28^th minutes, as Eaglets hassled to equalize the Swedish team, which was ahead by 2 – 0 then. But few minutes after his first goal in the game, Success tried to power another shot at goal, but cupped an arm-string injury that has sidelined him since then.

Assistant Coach of the Nigerian side, Nduka Ugbade lamented, “…Loss of Success to injury will be a big blow to the team…” But not with Taiwo Awoniyi, who was quick to fit into his place.

Awoniyi’s height and speed may remind you of Nigeria all time highest goal scorer, Rashidi Yekini. But again, he has such exceptional skills with the way he drives the ball pass defenders with ease. You may have wondered that such a player would have been on the bench, because he lacked such goal scoring prowess that Success process.

Well, that doesn’t take anything out of Awoniyi, who has scored 3 goals in three matches and helped Eaglets get to the Semi finals of the competition. Perhaps, it would have been more serious if it was Iheanacho who cupped the injury.

Iheanacho has been fantastic in his run as a play maker and a kind of life wire for the team. Nigerian fans were alarmed when he got a knock on his ankle in the match against Iran. Thank God he returns to inspire the team to victory against Uruguay at the quarter finals.

Indeed, Nigerians are hoping that Success will be fit to play in the semi finals. As one of the fans who gave his name as Kisito, told us: “Every player in this Eaglets team has played so well and I’m proud of them… But I want to see that delightful combination between Iheanacho and Success once again. I hope Success get fit for the Semi Finals game Against Sweden.”