Blessed Stars Academy excel at U-17 scouting event, Eaglets coach Manu Garba impressed
Blessed Stars Academy, based in Akwa Ibom State, put on a strong performance at the U-17 scouting tournament in Asaba, despite settling for a 2-2 draw against Kon FC.
The tournament currently taking place held at the Stephen Keshi Stadium, has brought together some of the most promising young talents in Nigeria, and Blessed Stars Academy certainly made their mark.
The match started with Blessed Stars Academy showing their intent early on. Prosper Effiong, one of the Academy’s rising stars, opened the scoring in the first half with a well-taken goal that put his team in the lead. Effiong’s goal was a result of the team’s aggressive start, and it set the tone for what seemed like a comfortable victory.
In the second half, Blessed Stars Academy continued their dominance, and substitute Barnabas Sam doubled their advantage. Sam’s goal came after he cleverly beat the goalkeeper at the near post, putting his team 2-0 up and seemingly in control of the match.
However, Kon FC mounted a late comeback, scoring two quick goals to level the match at 2-2. Despite the draw, Blessed Stars Academy’s performance was commendable, as they displayed skill, teamwork, and resilience throughout the game.
Golden Eaglets head coach Manu Garba was in the stands to watch the match, and he was reportedly impressed with the Blessed Stars Academy players. The Academy has a reputation for producing top talents, including former Nigeria U-17 stars Charles Etim and Peter Asuquo, and their players continued to live up to that legacy.
The tournament, which features over 16 youth teams, will continue on Saturday, with more opportunities for these young talents to showcase their abilities in front of national team handlers and scouts. Blessed Stars Academy will be hoping to build on their strong performance as they aim to attract the attention of the U-17 national team selectors.
