Nigeria’s cadet nationwide crew, Golden Eaglets’ coach, Manu Garba has made a powerful case for an increment within the variety of Africa U17 Cup of Nations slots for West Africa zone-B from two to 3, as a result of he believes all seven international locations within the sub-region are potential international champions.
Sports247 stories that Garba is filled with lamentations over his aspect’s 2-0 loss Ghana in Tuesday’s semi-final of the West African Soccer Union (WAFU)-B U17 Championship, which dominated them out of the continental stage and finally means they won’t be on the 2025 Cadet Mundial.
It additionally means Nigeria will miss each the African championship and U17 World Cup for the second straight time, however Garba reckoned that it could have been a completely completely different story had WAFU-B zone been allowed to provide three international locations to the continental qualifiers.
The successful coach at UAE 2013 FIFA U17 World Cup and assistant to Yemi Tella when the Eaglets additionally received the worldwide cadet competitors in Korea 2007, furrher recalled how his earlier grievance led to WAFU-B getting two slots, as an alternative of just one that they have been initially allotted.
Garba recounted: “Once we began the WAFU-B zonal qualifiers, I identified that we now have Burkina Faso, Ghana, Togo, Benin Republic, Niger Republic, Cote d’Ivoire and Nigeria … seven international locations, however just one to qualify.
“I used to be the one who raised the remark. I mentioned, ‘Inform them in CAF that WAFU-B ought to have extra qualifiers, as a result of it’s the strongest zone in Africa.’
“I instructed them that Africa must get an excellent illustration, and that’s why they added yet one more nation. They now gave us two slots, however I’m nonetheless complaining … as a result of we deserve three.”
Sports247 remembers that Ghana, who Nigeria beat within the closing of Japan ’93 however they later defeated Brazil to win the 2005 version, haven’t certified for the worldwide championship since India 2017, and Manu believes the constraints going through WAFU-B are a risk to correct illustration for Africa.
He additional averred, “It’s mistaken to have Nigeria and Ghana contesting for less than two tickets in the identical zone. We’re those that ensured that Africa remains to be rated on the high of FIFA’s under-17 stage.
“Cote d’Ivoire and Burkina Faso have additionally received medals beforehand on the World Cup. So, why ought to CAF give us solely two slots in WAFU-B?”
He concluded by declaring the WAFU-A sub-region seems to be extra favoured, although solely Mali and Guinea have sturdy FIFA U17 World Cup data amongst them, therefore his verdict that CAF ought to have a rethink concerning the variety of slots accessible in WAFU-B zone.
“They gave some consideration to WAFU-A, however I nonetheless say, for youth soccer, WAFU-B is the strongest in Africa. So, we have to get three representatives from this zone. This message ought to get to CAF. I would like the officers of WAFU-B to take this grievance to CAF,” Garba submitted.
