16 November 2009
Abuja — Sani Emmanuel, Golden Eaglets' award-winning striker at the just-concluded FIFA U-17 World Cup, said he was unfulfilled at the competition for missing out on the main trophy.
The My People Academy FC player ended up on the losing side in the final match in spite of winning two awards from the competition.
He told NAN in an interview that he would have left the competition a fulfilled player as he had earlier prayed to God if his team the Golden Eaglets had won the final match.
"I am not a happy man despite these personal awards. I had prayed to God that we should lift the trophy to make Nigerians happy, and that I will want that more than any personal glory.
"I had expected at least an award after scoring five goals after the semi-finals, but I would have been better satisfied with my performances if we had won the title, not coming second," he said.
Emmanuel whose Golden Eaglets side lost 0-1 to Switzerland in the final match at the Abuja National Stadium on Sunday won the competition's Adidas Golden Ball for the most outstanding player.
He had also won the Adidas Silver Shoe after scoring five goals in the competition, while his team won the FIFA Fair Play award in addition to the competition's main silver trophy.
Emmanuel, who refused to comment on his being named in the team's line-up after appearing as a substitute in his first four matches in the total five he played, said he was looking forward to a better career in the game.
"I am hopeful of a better career, even though I cannot tell you right now what lies ahead for me in the future," he said.
Emanuel who did not play in the team's first two group games became an instant hit after coming on as a substitute for injured Omah Ojabu in the 31st minute against Argentina in Bauchi and scoring a goal.
He went on to score twice as a 74th minute substitute against New Zealand in the second round, while he failed to score against South Korea in the quarter-finals in Calabar despite coming on as a substitute again in the 63rd minute.
Emmanuel, however, returned against Spain in the semi-finals in Lagos to score twice as a 48th minute substitute, while he started the final match against Switzerland in Abuja on Sunday, and was removed after 76 minutes.
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