Nigerian youth teams have failed to serve as feeder sides to the Super Eagles, after the era of the Golden Eaglets team that represented Nigeria at the 2015 U-17 World Cup, which brought to limelight the likes of Samuel Chukwueze, Kelechi Nwakali, and Victor Osimhen.
The situation borders on flawed recruitment process of players, quality of coaches, and the desperation to win-at-all-cost, CHRISTIAN OKPARA reports.
Players like Chibuzor Ehilegbu, Paul Okoku, Tarila Okorowanta, Wilfred Agbonavbare, Yisa Sofoluwe, Christopher Anigala, Amaechi Otti, Humphrey Edobor, Taju Disu, Deinde Akinlotan, and Edema Benson, were some of the products of that squad, who teamed up with the 1979 class of Steven Keshi, and Sylvanus Okpalla to dominate the senior national team for over a decade.
However, since the 2015 U-17 World Cup, which threw up Victor Osimhen, Samuel Chukwueze, and Kelechi Nwakali, among others, the youth teams have failed to produce shining stars for the Super Eagles. Again, the country has lost the opportunity to expose its youths to the highest level of cadet football in the world. These players will now lose the opportunity to display their talents on such a large canvas as the World Cup, and unless by divine intervention, they may have lost the chance to impress and join big European clubs the way their predecessors did.Former national U-20 and U-17 Coach, Fanny Amun, said many issues are dogging the country’s youth development efforts.
“Of course, it isn’t as if there are no quality players among the last few sets of the team, but the national team selectors across the board have turned blind eyes to those players. “For instance, Simon Cletus, a Senior Secondary School 1 student who equally plays for Mavlon FC has been discovered in the present Golden Eaglets squad, which he captained.”
“They should be organised to be truly for the ages mentioned. The teams should be running ones, not just assembled for competitions, or tournaments where officials invite all manner of players, many of whom are from agents, scouts, rich and influential parents, guardians and highly placed politicians.
According to Kakwi: “Since 2015, a set of agents have hijacked the youth teams, jeopardising street football, and state-to-state scouting.” Siasia advised the NFF to change the scouting system, saying that asking hundreds of players to gather in Abuja for screening is wrong.
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