“My dad died last year; I remember him too, but it is my mum that has been there for me all this while. I thank her so much.”
These were the words of one of the all-conquering Golden Eaglets’ pacesetting performers and striker, Orji Okonkwo.
Okonkwo, who described his 35-yard screamer, which fetched the second goal for Nigeria in the 4-2 defeat of Mexico in the semi finals of the FIFA U-17 World Cup last night, as his best ever, said: “I have never scored a goal like this before and you cannot practice this kind of goal.”
The striker who is the first boy in a family with six other children, came into the game as replacement for Funsho Bamgboye, who was suspended after two yellow cards.
Okonkwo hardly entered the pitch when he scored what is known in Nigerian football parlance as intercontinental ballistic missile.
The surprised Okonkwo admitted: “the goal I scored against Mexico today is a wonderful goal and I’m dedicating the goal to my mum.”
Okonkwo had earlier scored thrice, including a goal against Mali on April 21, 2014, at the sub-regional West African Football Union B Tournament in Togo where the Golden Eaglets finished third behind Benin and Togo.
Okonkwo also thanked coach Emmanuel Amuneke “for pushing me so hard.
“He is a nice person who wants the best for us. Before the match, he called me and said: ‘Orji, this is your chance, you can’t afford to let yourself and Nigerians down.’ And when I scored, I kept saying: ‘Coach, coach, coach.’ I’m grateful to him.”
Okonkwo is two-time winner of the annual Karanka Reveria Invitational Tournament in Croatia in 2013 and 2015, with the Abuja Football College. [myad]
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