Under-17 national team, Golden Eaglets’ coach, has raised warning bells over the ill-effects delayed Magnet Resonance Imagery (MRI) scans are having on his plans, as it has stopped him from trying out new players in the squad.
With barely three weeks to the start of the 2019 Africa U-17 Cup of Nations in Tanzania, sports247.ng can report that Manu is worried over his chances of pushing better players into his squad, as he is not sure if they will pass the mandatory age test scans.
The UAE 2013 FIFA U-17 World Cup-winning gaffer is now scared that he might just have to settle for only those among his players that played the qualifiers, as they had already been cleared and certified qualified.
That, though, would mean shutting out the prospects of lining out some lads that have been found to be better in the side, according to the ex-junior international, who played for the Flying Eagles at Chile ’97 World Youth Championship, then coached Wikki Tourist of Bauchi for a while.
Manu expatiated: ”We have more than 20 players that are capable of displacing some of the players on ground.
”Before we went to Niger, we had several unverified players and we don’t know if they are going to be retained.
“We don’t know who is who now. We have players who have not got the opportunity to play that can make the team to Tanzania, after the MRI.
”This team can only get stronger with the inclusion of those players I’m talking about especially in the offensive and midfield sector.
”That’s why we want the MRI to be done, so that we can know the players we have on ground, the MRI is really holding the team
”We have submitted our list, we are just waiting for the federation to give us the date; but it appears we are getting behind time.
“We are expected to submit a provisional list of 25 players two weeks before the first game.”
