Gov. Liyel Imoke of Cross River will lead a Federal Government delegation to the 2013 FIFA U-17 World Cup which kicks-off in the United Arab Emirate (UAE), on Oct. 17.
Inyama, board member of the Nigeria Football Association (NFA) disclosed this to newsmen in Abuja, on Thursday.
“The Governor of Cross River state will be leaving for Dubai, tomorrow, he is the leader of this contingent and he is going to give the team his backing.
“The team was prepared in Calabar; so, the governor will be present at the Golden Eaglets’ opening match on Saturday against Mexico,’’ Inyama said.
Inyama, who is also the Chairman of the Nigeria National League (NNL), noted that Imoke’s love for the Eaglets earned him the leader of delegation slot.
Inyama noted that the level of confidence, preparation and exposure given to the team, was enough to secure victory for them in their opening match on Saturday against Mexico.
“We expect a good result from that match because that will guarantee us qualification from the group because Mexicans as the defending champions are no pushovers.
“The Golden Eaglets’ are no pushovers too. It is going to be a good game because their target is to win the cup,’’ he added.
The Nigerian team arrived in the city of Al-Ain, the venue for their group match on Tuesday for the tournament which would end on Nov. 8.
The team was camped in Al-Ain Dinat Resort Hotel, from where it would engage defending champions Mexico, Iraq and Sweden in group F.
The Eaglets had previously won the World championship in 1985, 1993 and 2007; they also won the African Under-17 Championship in 2001 and 2007, and were runners-up in 199