On This Day: Reminiscing on Golden Eaglets 1985 World Triumph

On This Day: Reminiscing on Golden Eaglets 1985 World Triumph

By Gbenga Gboyega

On the 11th of August 1985, at the Gongti Workers' Stadium located in the Chaoyang District of Beijing, China, the Golden Eaglets of Nigeria made history as the inaugural champions of the FIFA U-17 World Cup, BSNSports.com.ng reflects.

Previously christened the FIFA U-16 World Championship, before getting upgraded to U-17 in the early 90s, the biennial competition was inspired by the Lion City Cup created in 1977 by the Football Association of Singapore. 

The Lion City Cup was the first under-16 football tournament globally, following Sepp Blatter's recommendation after he was in Singapore for the 1982 edition, while he was FIFA's Secretary-General.

Three years on, FIFA created the FIFA U-16 World Championship with its inaugural edition staged in China in the year 1985, consisting of 16 premier national teams three of which represented CAF.

Nigeria contested from Group C where the Golden Eaglets progressed unbeaten with clean sheets after defeating Italy and Costa Rica, 1-0 and 3-0 respectively, while drawing Saudi Arabia in a stalemate.

The knockout stages saw Nigeria concede for the first time in the tournament, after gaining a healthy 3-1 win over Hungary in the quarterfinals at the Hongkou Stadium in Shanghai, before hustling a win on penalties over the Guineans in the semis to book a slot in the final against West Germany.

On This Day in 1985, the Golden Eaglets led by Broderick Sebastian as head coach filed out against the Manashaft of West Germany at the 80,000-packed stadium with Australia's Bambridge Christophe appointed as the center referee.

Goals in both halves from Jonathan Akpoborie in the 4th minute and Victor Igbinoba in the 79th minute settled the encounter as Nigeria lifted the world's most prestigious title for players under age 16 in style.

The next time Nigeria won the title was in 1993 against Ghana, after FIFA upgraded the age-grade level to U-17 two years prior, before bagging the South Korea 2007, the United Arab Emirates 2013, and Chile 2015 editions in the modern era.

Nigeria alongside Ghana (Ecuador 1995) are the only African teams to lift the FIFA U-17 World Cup in history, with the Golden Eaglets remaining the most successful side representing CAF on the world stage.