19 years after, Emetiole regrets F/Eagles loss

By Tosin Omojola - 12.05.2008

Chief coach of Heartland of Owerri, Kelechi Emetiole has revealed that the defeat of the Flying Eagles by Portugal in the final of the FIFA U -20 World Cup held in Saudi Arabia in 1989 remains a painful experience to him.

Caterpillar, as the coach is fondly called, was among the Tunde Disu-led technical crew that led the Nigerian team to the competition where it came second behind the Portuguese who beat the Eagles 2-0 to cart home the trophy.

In a recent chat with Tribunesports, Emetiole explained that that match was one he always hated to remember or talk about due to the manner with which the cup evaded Nigeria.

According to him, it was very sad losing the final match after putting in much efforts to get that far in the competition in which the Flying Eagles recorded a famous quarter final victory over the then Soviet Union.