Former Nigeria national team winger, Segun Odegbami has hailed the impact of the NNPC/Shell Cup on the various national teams.
The Shooting Stars Sports Club of Ibadan (3SC) legend, Odegbami who
guided the then Green Eagles to her first African Cup of Nations (AFCON)
title on home soil in 1980 noted that the impact of the football
competition dedicated to secondary schools across the country has been
enormous.
The 17th edition of the NNPC/Shell Cup football championship for All
Nigerian Secondary Schools has been scheduled to start this month March
and Lagos is expected to host the grand finale in May 2015.
Ex-Green Eagles striker, Segun Odegbami who also doubles as the
championship consultant, said the tournament has been a wonderful
platform for player’s discovery for our National Junior teams.
Just to mention a few stars who have rose to stardom from the
NNPC/Shell Cup in the past 16 years ; Ambrose Vanzekin,Chinedu Ogbuke
both won Silver for Nigeria at the 2005 FIFA U20 World Cup and at the
2008 summer Olympics 'Beijing 2008', Femi Opabumi played at both the
FIFA U17 and senior World Cup for Nigeria, Ejike Uzoeny helped Nigeria
to a third place finish at the 2014 African Championship (CHAN) and was
named the MVP of the tournament and Ibrahim Ajani whose goals helped
Sunshine Stars of Akure reached the semifinal stage of both the CAF
Champions League and Confederation Cup.
Akinde Idowu currently a member of the Nigeria's U20 team, the Flying
Eagles played for National College Ughelli in the 2012 edition of the
championships.
"The NNPC/Shell cup has created a platform for the discovery of new
football talents from across secondary schools in the nooks and crannes
of the 36 states in Nigeria. The championship has been so successful
that it is now a permanent fixture in the Nigeria school sports
calendar," Odegbami said.
Segun Odegbami who got the nickname 'Mathematical' because of his
precise crosses from the right wing, skill on the ball and speed
revealed that a friendly match between the Golden Eaglets and one of the
semi list is being planned.
"Plans are ongoing with the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) to
organize a friendly match between the current Golden Eaglets team with
one of the four semifinalists"
"We have also strengthened the partnership launched in 2014 with
Feyenoord Rotterdam Youth Academy, one of the most successful Youth
Academy in the world, to bring world class coaching and player
development expertise to Nigeria," Odegbami stated.
The championship will begin with the State Finals from 10th - 11th of
March, Zonal Preliminaries start from April. The quarter finals and
National finals will hold in May in Lagos.
Total of N8.2 million has been awarded towards development of sports in
the top four schools. Winner will take N3.5 million while the fourth
place gets N1.1 million.
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