‘It’s a disaster’ – FCT FA chairman Adam Mukhtar labels Nigeria’s U17 Afcon ouster

By Oyediji Oluwaseun Babatunde

The Chairman of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Football Association, Adam Mukhtar has expressed his disappointment in the failure of the Nigeria national U-17 team to qualify for the 2023 FIFA U-17 World Cup.

A 2-1 loss to Burkina Faso ensured that Nduka Ugbade’s side crashed out of the U-17 AFCON and failed to make it to the World Cup.

Burkina Faso’s Young Etalons took the few opportunities that came their way to defeat Nigeria in a gritty Africa U17 Cup quarter-final duel thanks to a brace from Aboubacar Camara despite Abubakar Abdullahi’s goal for Nigeria.

Mukhtar, a member of the NFF Three-member National Teams Advisory Committee, set up in October 2022 by NFF President Ibrahim Gusau describes the ouster as a monumental disaster for Nigerian football.

“It is disappointing and a disaster of national magnitude that our revered Golden Eaglets who have won the FIFA Under-17 World Cup five times failed to qualify from the U-17 AFCON losing to Burkina Faso in the quarter-finals,”  Muhtar told Completesports.com.

“It’s disastrous and we cannot allow recent poor outings at the continental level to persist. The coaches just have to give way to others to try. With this loss, we have failed to present a young crop of players to the world to showcase their talents.

“It also means that the supplies to the senior national team will be affected. I am not saying that it is our birthright to win all the time but we cannot be reduced to the level of missing out on the World Cup

“It is my opinion that the team’s technical crew should be asked to go, to serve as a deterrent to coaches who fail to meet the responsibility and targets given to them. There should be no second chance for coaches who fail to meet the expectations of Nigerians.”

On the way forward, Muhtar who is seeking a second term in office as FCT FA Chairman, said: “We have to produce and implement a blueprint that will redirect our football.

“Recent developments in our football are a clear indication that we are derailing and have to get back on track. We have to put a stop to recent setbacks. Any Coach found wanting should not only be sacked but also suspended for some time from practicing,” Muhtar concluded.