Tributes as Golden Eaglets mourn late Njengo

Golden Eaglets' Head coach, Manu Garba (MFR) has described as shocking and painful the death of Friday Njengo at the Abuja National Hospital Sunday night.

The 17-year-old defender passed on after spending close to nine months in the intensive care unit of the hospital following a surgery due to an auto crash on his way to the team's Calabar Camp on February 3rd.

Njengo, who was in company of goalkeeper Adamu Abubakar, had the unfortunate
accident near Jalingo, the capital of Taraba State and was promptly relocated to the National Hospital in Abuja by the NFF.

"This indeed is a great loss as Njengo lost his life while serving Nigeria," a crest-fallen coach Manu said."Nigeria have lost a great potential who could have played for the Super Eagles; adieu smiling
Friday Njengo and may God grant him eternal rest.

While at the hospital battling for survival, Njengo was not forgotten and repeatedly got assistance from Golden Eaglets so much so his team mates randomly dedicated goals during the CAN and FIFA U-17 Championship.

" I'm so pained over the unfortunate loss of Njengo because he was so close to me and I remembered he called me barely five minutes before he had that accident," lamented Suleiman Abubakar, the team
coordinator.

"I'm always in tears anytime I was in the hospital to visit him and I saw how he battled for survival; so painful that we lose him at a time we are still celebrating our victory at the World Cup."

According to Taiwo Awoniyi, Njengo would forever be remembered for contributing partly towards the success of the Golden Eaglets' qualification for CAN 2013 en route to the FIFA Under-17 World Cup UAE
2013.

“I would remember Friday for being a very cool and gentle teammate who worked for the success of the Golden Eaglets in the qualifiers,” noted the World Cup hero, Awoniyi. Apart from featuring in some local friendly matches, Njengo was a second half substitute for Wilfred Ndidi in the 2-0 away win against Mali at the Stade Mamadou Konate in Bamako on December 2, 2012.

Always with an infectious smile, Njengo was born April 24, 1996 native in Gombe. He cut his teeth at Yarmalight Academy of Gombe.

“May his soul rest in peace," stated Tayo Egbaiyelo, the Golden Eaglets' secretary.