Nigeria: Kanu Hails Flying Eagles as Bonfrere Confirms Testimonial Visit

Tunde Sulaiman

3 May 2011

Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) Ambassador, Nwankwo Kanu has hailed the stunning victory of the Flying Eagles over the Indomitable Cubs of Cameroon in the final of the African Youth Championships even as former Super Eagles handler, Bonfrere Jo confirmed that he will be in Lagos for next month’s Testimonial Match.

Speaking to THISDAYSports on the phone from London yesterday, Kanu, one of the stars of Nigeria’s Japan’93 FIFA U-17 World Cup triumph, said the victory shows that Nigeria still has the talents to produce future stars for the senior national team.

“It’s a very good sign, it shows that the country has an abundant of talents that if well harnessed will ensure that we will continue to produce quality players that will be able to fill the shoes left by players like Jay Jay Okocha and myself.

“I wish to congratulate them (Flying Eagles) and appeal to them to take the same determination the World Cup in Colombia so that at the end of the competition we will again have cause to celebrate,” said the former national team skipper.

Meanwhile, the man who guided the nation to her greatest triumph in world football, Jo Bonfrere has sent word that he will be in the country next month for the Testimonial Match for Kanu.

Incidentally, Kanu was Bonfrere’s skipper when Nigeria became the first nation from Africa to win an Olympics football gold medal when they beat Argentina in the final at Atlanta’96.

Also setting aside a few days of his holiday to be in Lagos for the June 11 Testimonial is Senegalese football star, El Hadji Diouf.

Diouf, who now plays for Glasgow Rangers in Scotland, shot to international limelight when he helped the Taranga Lions shock the world at Korea/Japan 2002 where they reached the quarter-finals in their very first Mundial appearance.

The 30-year-old forward is only the latest high profile footballer to commit to the June football fiesta in Lagos. Others that have also indicated their readiness to play at the Testimonial include Indomitable Lions skipper, Samuel Eto, Emmanuel Adebayor of Togo and Real Madrid and Chelsea star, Michael Essien.

However, since the Testimonial is not only about current football stars, some former stars who have also graciously agreed to make the long journey to Nigeria for the three-time FA Cup winner, include the de Boer twins, Frank and Ronald, Frank Rijkaard and Patrick Kluivert, who incidentally where all members of the victorious Ajax side, which dazzled all the way to European glory in 1995, with Nigerian stars Kanu and Finidi George in the thick of the action.

Also scheduled to grace the Teslim Balogun Stadium is former Chelsea and Dutch striker, Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink.

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