Izuchukwu OkosiGermany were crowned 2023 FIFA U-17 World Cup winners on Saturday evening after beating France 4-3 on penalties to lift their first-ever title as the world’s cadet champions.
Germany was a finalist in 1985 when China hosted the inaugural edition with Nigeria’s Golden Eaglets beating them 2-0 in the final.
The European sides had played out a thrilling 2-2 draw in regulation time.
A first-half penalty converted by Paris Brunner gave the Germans the lead which was extended by captain Noah Darvich six minutes after the break.
The Germans played the last 21 minutes with 10 men after youngster Winners Osawe – who has a Nigerian heritage – received a second yellow card.
Osawe is one of two Nigerian-born players in the German ranks with central defender Gideon Odogwu the other.
Nigeria’s U-17 side, the Golden Eaglets, who are the most successful national team in the tournament’s history with five titles in 1985, 1993, 2007, 2013 and 2015 failed to qualify for Indonesia 2023.
France boasting of several players of African origin pulled a goal back through Saimon Bouabre while Mathis Amougou restored parity and sent the final to penalties.
Goalkeeper Konstantin Heide saved two of the French penalties. Almugera Kabar fired home the winning shot for the German side.
Nigeria’s U-17 side, the Golden Eaglets, who are the most successful national team in the tournament’s history with five titles in 1985, 1993, 2007, 2013 and 2015 failed to qualify for Indonesia 2023.
Izuchukwu Okosi is a Nigerian sports and entertainment journalist with two decades of experience in the media industry having begun his media journey in 2002 as an intern at Mundial Sports International (MSI) and Africa Independent Television (AIT), owners of Daar Communications Plc.
In October 2004, Okosi joined Complete Communications Limited, publishers of Complete Sports newspaper and Complete Football magazine as a reporter and later script writer for the Complete Sports studio.
He worked there for 13 years until October 2017.
Okosi also worked various times as Correspondent, Content creator and Editor at Sports Market International Magazine, Opera News, All Nigeria Soccer Media and Iconic Media Watch.
He also undertook freelance writing gigs for some local and international organizations.
Okosi is a member of the Actors Guild of Nigeria (AGN), Association of Movie Producers (AMP), Association of Voiceover Artistes of Nigeria (AVOA), Sports Writers Association of Nigeria (SWAN) and Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ).
He has been part of cast in some Nollywood movies and radio dramas including Blood Money 2, Scores To Settle, Dead End 2, Another Campus Tale and Battle Line.
Aside mainstream media and the entertainment industry, he has interests in scouting/unearthing of talents in the sports and creative sectors, exports business and property development.
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