The Nigeria Mini-football men national team resumed training with 31 players on Monday at the Ilaji Mini-football pitch, Akanran Ibadan.
60 home-based players from 20 states were invited for screening, while the other 29 players are expected to hit camp before dinner time on Monday.
Head coach of the team, Babatunde Odubola said that the team’s preparations have started with two training sessions today.
“We had our first training session this morning, where 31 players were present,” Odubola told the media team.
“Definitely, the other players are coming into the camp today (Monday). This late arrival is due to the fact that some of them are coming from a far distance but we are expecting them to arrive today and the screening will start immediately.”
“Well the camp resumed yesterday, we opened the camp for 60 players from 20 states of the Federation where we are having Minifootball at present. The camp is at Ilaji Hotels and Resorts Akanran, Ibadan the venue of the competition in July.
He further disclosed that 20 players will be selected and register to represent Nigeria at the second African Minifootball Cup.
“20 best players among the 60 players are going to represent Nigeria,” he added.
Monday’s training started at 7 am and ended at 8:30 am, while the second training will be held from 5 pm at the Minifootball stadium.
Coach Odubola led the Nigeria Minifootball national team to their first African Minifootball Cup in Libya in 2018 where they finished fifth.
About Mini-football:
The game is being played by six players, one goalkeeper with five outfield players, and seven players on the bench who could get on the pitch anytime with 25 minutes of each half.
It’s a tough game where there’s no time to rest on the pitch. At every moment, players keep playing and moving around the pitch. Following a minimal number of players, they all defend and attack together.