By Gracious Akujobi
No fewer than 11of the National U-17 men’s soccer team, the Golden Eaglets have failed the Magnetic Resonance Image (MRI) scan which was carried out on the players.
A total of 30 players were presented for test but only 19 scaled through the test which is used to verify the authentic age of the players.
The 11 players that failed the test have been asked to leave the Eaglets camp immediately.
The Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) Director of Technical, Dr. Emmanuel Ikpeme who disclosed this to Prompt News Online said Coach Manu Garba has been directed to get replacements for the decamped players.
Ikpeme further revealed that the tests conducted at the National Hospital, Abuja showed that the 11 players failed the MRI level six tests which FIFA insists all teams must be below to qualify to play at that level.
“We received the results of the tests and I must say that it was not palatable. 11 of the 30 players failed the MRI test and we have asked them to leave camp as they are above the age limits for the tournament”
“The coaches have been told to get replacements for them as quickly as possible so as to be able to blend them with the 19 that are left in camp but my fear is whether those they would call up would pass the test” he stated
Golden Eaglets are preparing for the FIFA U-17 World Cup which will take place in the United Arab Emirate between October 17 and 8 November.
