FIFA Withdraws Bronze Boot from Nwakali, Chukwueze Picks It

By Echonaija | 2nd December 2015

FIFA, the organisers of the 2015 FIFA U-17 World Cup has admitted making a mistake by awarding the 2015 U-17 World Cup Bronze Boot to Kelechi Nwakali, instead of his team-mate Samuel Chukwueze who Everton of England are interested in.

Chukwueze played only 535 minutes while Nwakali had 630 minutes minutes on the field of play. Both players scored three goals and provided three assists at the end of the competition.

However, FIFA named Nwakali as the third highest goal scorer despite playing more.

“We made a mistake at the closing ceremony of the FIFA U-17 World Cup Chile 2015 with the distribution of the adidas Bronze Boot,” FIFA apologised to the Nigerian Football Federation (NFF) in a letter.

“Instead of player no. 8 of Nigeria, Samuel Chukwueze, the player Kelechi Nwakali (player no. 10 of Nigeria) received the adidas Bronze Boot. However, if two or more players are still equal (after goals and assists), the player who has played fewer number of minutes will be ranked first.

“With this in mind, adidas will send you another Bronze Boot in December 2015, which we would kindly ask you to hand over to Samuel Chukwueze. Please be informed that Kelechi Nwakali may keep his trophy.”

Nigeria’s Victor Osimhen scored 10 goals to clinch the Golden Boot, while Germany’s Johannes Eggestein took the Silver Boot with four goals.