Head Coach Manu Garba has expressed confidence in Nigeria’s U-17 boys, the Golden Eaglets, as they gear up for the upcoming WAFU B U-17 Championship in Ghana.
Manu Garba, who led Nigeria to victory in the 2013 FIFA U-17 World Cup, reassured fans that the technical crew is focused on assembling a squad capable of achieving success and securing a spot in next year’s Africa U-17 Cup of Nations.
Addressing concerns about the Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) tests, Garba emphasized that the genuine U-17 players with valid documentation have remained in camp after passing the MRI tests conducted by the football body.
He clarified that some players from football academies had to withdraw from the camp when their MRI results indicated they were overage (Grade 5), in line with the NFF’s requirements of Grade 1 to 4.
Garba highlighted the NFF’s commitment to transparency and ensuring compliance with age regulations, mentioning that players who misrepresented their MRI results were identified and asked to leave the camp.
He dispelled rumors of confusion in the camp, stating that most players had satisfactory MRI results from the NFF-approved medical center.
Looking ahead to the WAFU B U-17 tournament, Garba expressed optimism about the team’s prospects and mentioned that the Confederation of African Football would conduct another MRI test before the tournament begins. Nigeria, as the defending champions of the WAFU B U-17 Championship, will kick off their title defense against Burkina Faso on May 16.
Despite challenges and controversies surrounding MRI tests, Garba remains focused on preparing the team, citing their positive performance in friendly games with six wins, two draws, and one loss.
