MRI knocks off five key players from Nigeria’s U17 team
Read Time:1 Minute, 23 Second
#MTNshortz3sixtyworld
The strength of the Nigerian U17 team has been depleted after the mandatory Magnetic Resonance Imaging test popularly called the MRI test introduced by FIFA to curb the menace of age cheat claimed five regular players.
Players of the team underwent the test last week ahead of their campaign at the Africa U17 Qualifiers tournament in Niger Republic and the result was released two days back to the players by the technical crew of the team.
Led by coach Manu Garba, the technical crew painfully announced the name of five players who have been pivotal in their training plans among the players who failed the test, hence ruling them out of the
tournament.
According to reports, at least 15 out of the 40 players in camp failed the test just two weeks to the big kick-off.
Reacting to the test result, Manu Garba said they will work hard to make up for the absence of the players : ” It’s unfortunate because they have been with us for a while but we will work hard to make up for their absence. They will be missed but we are confident of finding capable replacement “, he told Owngoalnigeria.com.
Last year, as many as 23 players failed the age test so much so that the five-time world champions failed to qualify for the U17 AFCON in Rwanda.
Coach Manu’s team are to begin their qualifying campaign on September 3 against Burkina Faso.
They are drawn in Group B along with Cote d’Ivoire and Benin Republic with only the overall winners of the seven-team qualifying competition advancing to the tournament proper in Tanzania next year.
Happy
0 %
Sad
0 %
Excited
0 %
Sleepy
0 %
Angry
0 %
Surprise
0 %
0
0