Sports enthusiasts commended the Golden Eaglets 2-0 victory against the visiting Young Squirrels of Benin on Saturday, the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reported Sunday.

In the first leg qualifying match of Nigeria 2009 played at the Liberation Stadium, Port Harcourt, Nigeria's Under-17 team took the edge through Adamu Hassan's 7th minute first goal.

Eaglets impressive performance aroused jubilation among spectators in the 25,000 capacity stadium when Adamu Linus scored Nigeria's second goal in the 56th minute through a penalty.

NAN reports that Nigeria would play a return-leg match in the next two weeks in Porto Novo, Benin Republic.

Emeka Odikpo, spokesman, Local Organizing Committee of Nigeria 2009, commended the team's impressive performance.

He stressed the need for early preparations towards the World Cup.

"The team must beef up efforts for better performance during the World Cup event because they are playing host to other countries of the World," he said.

Another football fan, Muyideen Jimoh expressed satisfaction on the Eaglets' performance, saying, it was a well-deserved victory for the Nigerian side.

"The Alphonsius Dike-led team utilized the flanks to open up the mid-field earlier taken over by the Young Squirrels of Benin," Jimoh said.

Source: Xinhua