By Judith Nwabia
A multitude of the very old numbering up to 300 were sent packing on the first day of screening for the Golden Eaglets after they were facially deemed to be over the age for the Nigeria U-17 team.
More than 400 players stormed the NFF/ FIFA Goal Project playing ground in Abuja for the screening exercise conducted by Coach Manu Garba.
Reacting to the situation, one of the team officials described it as being “simply crazy,” saying “many old players simply descended on the training camp hoping to be picked for the team, but they were promptly sent away merely by looking at their hardened faces.”
The open screening for a new set of Golden Eaglets kicked off in Abuja on Monday and is expected to run for three weeks.
The five-time world champions are expected to begin qualification for next year’s U17 AFCON in Madagascar with a road trip to Niger in August.
Nigeria’s Golden Eaglets last year emerged champions of the Fifa Under-17 World Cup in Chile after defeating Mali 2-0.
The Cup triumph meant that the Nigerians successfully defended the title they won two years ago in the UAE. Two quick second half goals from Victor Osimhen and Funsho Bamgboye ensured that Emmanuel Amuneke’s men cruised to victory as Nigeria claimed their fifth world title at under-17 level.