NFF explains Eaglets’ participation in Suwon Tournament

The Nigeria Football Federation ( NFF ) on Thursday explained its decision for the Under-17 National football team, Golden Eaglets to participate in the forthcoming 2016 U-19 Suwon Continental Cup tournament.

A statement from NFF’S spokesperson, Ademola Olajire, quoted the General Secretary, Mohammed Sanusi, as saying that it was aimed to sustain the team’s momentum.

He said the tournament would prepare the team for bigger challenges ahead.

He said the NFF had subjected the lads to series of medical examinations to ascertain the fact that they were truly Under-17 players.

“Apart from the tests conducted by the NFF, there was a medical team from CAF that subjected the players to another thorough examination.

”We are very sure the boys are Under-17 players and we must do everything to prepare them for bigger challenges, as they will constitute the next Under-20 team.

“They showed naevity and a level of innocence in the way they approached the match in Niger Republic.

“That was partly why they were intimidated out of the African qualifying series,” he said.

Sanusi assured that apart from the Suwon tournament, the NFF would keep them busy next year with series of invitational tournaments and friendly matches.

He said this would help to expose and turn them into matured players for the qualifying series of 2019 Africa U20 Cup of Nations.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that a team of 22 players and 10 officials of the Golden Eaglets will depart Nigeria on Monday, Nov. 7 for Korea Republic for the Continental Cup.

The Eaglets are scheduled to take on their counterparts from England on Wednesday, Nov. 9, play Iran the following day and tackle the host team on Saturday, Nov. 12