Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) has apparently taken a huge step towards rebuilding the under-17 national team, Golden Eaglets, as the revamped squad is scheduled for a seven-day training tour in China ahead of their next competitive outing.
Sports247 gathered that the Eaglets have commenced camping ahead of the West African Football Union (WAFU)-B U17 Championship, which will serve as qualifiers for the continental competition, for a ticket to the next Cadet Mundial.
With Nigeria having been absent from the last two editions of the FIFA U-17 World Cup, due to the Eaglets’ inability to qualify from the WAFU-B zonal stage, the NFF has taken the bull by the horn in lining the revamped squad up for extensive training in China.
Consequently, the new unfolding squad, which has a blend of recently invited grassroots players and some outstanding talents from the under-15 Baby Eagles’ team, will fly out of Abuja next week for what has been described as ‘a valuable opportunity’ for the lads.
It is also expected to accord the coaching crew more opportunities to assess the emerging talents, properly blend the squad and expose the young players to international standards, with chances given them to compete against quality opposition.
They will also be able to concentrate fully on the process they have embarked on and continue their development as future representatives of Nigerian football, under the guidance of the recently appointed head coach, Eboboritse Uwejamomere.
The highly acclaimed youth developer will work together with three assistants – Olumide Ajibolade, Mohammed Kachala and Abdullahi Isa – in moulding another set of Eaglets, with a major objective of qualifying for the African U-17 Cup of Nations.
After that is achieved, the focus will shift towards returning Nigeria to the FIFA U-17 World Cup, where the country has a record five trophies to flaunt; having won the inaugural under-16 version at China ’83 as well as conquests at the current level in 1993, 2007, 2013 and 2015.
