Eighteen members of the Nigerian U-17 team have failed the Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) test conducted to verify their ages.
The affected players were screened out during the Grade 1 test ordered by FIFA for all the countries that will participate in CAF/FIFA age grade football competitions.
The Media Officer of Nigeria Football Federation (NFF), Demola Olajire, confirmed the development on Friday, adding that the over-age players had been ordered out of the camp.
“The NFF conducted MRI tests for the players presented to us by the coaches as U-17. The players failed our MRI test and they are out of the Golden Eaglets team,” he said.
“So, we are looking for new players now, but Nigerians should note that we are not the parents of these players.”
It will be recalled that Nigeria has, in the past, faced many accusations of fielding over-age players in age-grade competitions.
Reacting to the latest scandal, former coach of the Flying Eagles, Tunde Disu, advised Coach Manu Garba and his assistants to go back to schools to select new players ahead of their Africa U-17 qualifying series, which kicks off in September.
Reacting to the latest scandal, former coach of the Flying Eagles, Tunde Disu, advised Coach Manu Garba and his assistants to go back to schools to select new players ahead of their Africa U-17 qualifying series, which kicks off in September.
“I don’t see this incident as a disgrace; rather it’s a wake-up call. Nigeria still has time to amend the situation,” he said.
“Let the coaches go to the academies and schools to scout for players who are within the age limit. I think the MRI test introduced by FIFA will force Nigeria and other African countries to go back to the grassroots to pick true U-17 players.”
