As Nigeria’s quest to defend the WAFU B U17 title gets underway in Accra-Ghana, with an opening game against Burkina Faso, head coach of the Golden Eaglets, Manu Garba and his assistants will have a pool of the best football talents to choose from.
Nine (9) players have been selected from Nationwide League One clubs and academies, demonstrating the league’s role as the focal point of football development in Nigeria and a scouting hub for young and talented players.
The selected players are Simon Cletus Karshe (Mavlon Football Club), John Ogwuche (Hypebuzz Football Club), Edward Ochigbo (Sporting Lagos Academy), Chinedu Dominic Levi (N-youth Sports Academy), Imrana Mohammad (Mavlon Football Club), Rapha Adams (Hypebuzz Football Club), and the Beyond Limits Football Academy trio of Abdulmuiz Oladimeji, Oreoluwa Agbenla, and Daniel Vowero.
Chief Operating Officer (COO) of the NLO, Olushola Ogunnowo says the feat is in fulfilment of the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) President’s statement during the NLO Congress in January.
“Nigeria is blessed with raw football talents, unearthing these football talents was not a day’s job but with consistent planning and a blueprint design to restructure our grassroot football to meet with the developing trends in Europe and other top football nations.
“Over the years, the NLO has provided opportunities for talented players of all ages and abilities to play the game in an enjoyable, safe environment, despite limited funds.
“Football academies play an essential role in increasing participation and providing players with a quality footballing experience.
“As I have always stressed to the media, the NLO clubs and academies are the cornerstone of our communities and also the bedrock of our football development, with the transition of these talents to the cadet national teams- Golden Eaglets (U17) to the Flying Eagles (U20) and our Nigeria Premier Football League clubs.
“The more reason the Secretariat initiated the NLO Youth League which has an age cap of U-15-19, which is targeted at talented players In our secondary schools.
“Also, Improving coaching at all levels, with Coach Education has played an important role in this feat. The NLO Grassroot Football Coaching Clinics is evidence of the nation’s third-tier league aims at developing better coaches and, ultimately, better players and the overall quality of the game – whether at the grassroots or elite level.
“The Chairman of the NLO, former Nasarawa State Deputy Governor, His Excellency Silas Agara has expressed his delight with the news and has charged the Secretariat not to rest in oars to ensure more players from the NLO graduate to the various national teams and even the Super Eagles.”
