Nigeria captain Kelechi Nwakali has won the Golden Ball award for the best player of the just-ended FIFA U-17 World Cup in Chile.
The attacking midfielder emulates his namesake Kelechi Iheanacho - now making waves at Manchester City - from Nigeria's 2013 triumph, when he led the team to retain the title after defeating Mali 2-0 in the final in Vina Del Mar on Monday morning (Ghana time).
The youngster, whose older brother Chidiebere was a member of the victorious 2013 team, also received the third highest scorer award following his three goals.
His teammate Victor Osimhen picked up the Golden Boot award for the top scorer after netting an incredible ten goals. He becomes the first player ever to reach double digits in a single tournament, beating the previous record of nine goals set by France's Sinama Pongolle in 2001 and equaled in 2011 by Cote d'Ivoire star Souleymane Coulibaly.
Osimhen was also voted the second best player of the tournament, with Mali's Aly Malle receiving the Bronze Ball in a clean African sweep.
Mali goalkeeper Samuel Diarra won the Golden Glove, while Ecuador received the Fair Play Award.
-
Follow Gary on Twitter: @garyalsmith. Get more updates on Facebook/Twitter with the #JoySports hashtag
Latest Stories
-
‘Stop the lies’ – Akufo-Addo challenges Mahama over 24-hour economy promise
23 mins -
Election 2024: Don’t appoint partisan election officers – Omane Boamah to EC
25 mins -
‘NDC Majority Caucus’ urges Speaker to reject NPP MPs’ recall request
28 mins -
Akufo-Addo commissions 4 District Hospitals in Ashanti Region
28 mins -
Bawumia lauds Lands Commission for digital initiatives, as he inaugurates new office complex
46 mins -
20,000 capacity Ghana Trade Fair Convention Centre to be ready in September 2025 – Bawumia
51 mins -
Sunon Asogli’s 560MW power plant restarts operations following government intervention
1 hour -
Government to align teacher training programmes with global standards
1 hour -
Sharaf Mahama champions community growth through sports at Harvard SEI Summit
1 hour -
We are committed to building a more robust and inclusive social system – SSNIT
1 hour -
We’ll take advantage of technology at DPE 2025 -says GREDA Prez
1 hour -
First Lady inaugurates ultra-modern CHPS compound for Gboloo Kofi residents
2 hours -
Sunon Asogli 560MW power plant resumes operations after emergency intervention
2 hours -
‘Bawumia proves NPP is not ‘anti-North” – Hackman Owusu-Agyeman
3 hours -
2024 Elections: IGP urges Christians to preach, pray for peace
3 hours