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2023 U17 Afcon: Golden Eaglets’ Nduka Ugbade explains delayed camp resumption
By Oyediji Oluwaseun Babatunde
As the Nigerian U-17 national team are expected to be preparing for the African Cup of Nations next year, head coach Nduka Ugbade says the team camp might not open this month as earlier planned.
The former international turned coach disclosed that the camp of the U-20 team which is currently open in Abuja won’t make it possible for his team to resume camp this month.
“We have to start on time. As it is right now, the U-20 competition is coming up ahead of ours and is nearby,” Ugbade told Brila FM.
“Their tournament is coming up in February and are in the camp now. Our tournament is coming up later next year.”
Ugbade, who had guided the team to regional success at the WAFU-B championship earlier this season, revealed that discussions are on with the NFF to sort out the Eaglets camp issue.
“There is an ongoing meeting to solve the situation of opening camp. The Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) understands the basic fact that U-17 is not like U-20, Super Eagles, or club sides. There are lot of constraints administratively.”
Given the tedious nature of the U-17 team, the camp is expected to be open to sort out MRI tests and other modalities. Five-time world champions, Nigeria clinched the West Africa Zone B (WAFU-B) U-17 title this year to qualify for the AFCON.
Next year’s AFCON will serve as the Qualifiers for the next FIFA U-17 World Cup with an MRI test compulsory for players at this level.
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