MRI Test failure sends U17 coaching crew into dilemma, in search of new players

The Nigeria U17 team coach Fatai Amoo has been hard hit by the results of the MRI tests carried out on 60 players selected by the technical crew ahead of the WAFU Championship.

A member of the technical crew of the team told owngoalnigeria.com that the result has badly affected their preparations with as many as 47 players failing the test meant to curb the menace of age cheat.

The new rule by CAF has also not helped matters as if one player from the team fails the tests to be carried out by the African football governing body, the entire team will be disqualified from the tournament which will take place in January.

“It’s not good at all. We are back searching for new players as I speak with you now. Only 13 players passed it excellently and only five of them can be said to be regular in the team. In fact only two of them who passed is assured of a starting berth before the test was done.” he told owngoalnigeria.com

Nigeria will face West African rivals Ghana and Côte D’Ivoire in the group stage of the tournament which which has been postponed to the 5th of January and will run till the 20th of the same month.

Benin Republic will host the tournament which will serve as qualifiers for the 2021 U17 Africa Cup of Nations set to take place in Morocco next year.

Source – owngoalnigeria.com