• Team depart for Sokoto Wednesday, hits Niamey February 12
THE national U-17 team will depart Abuja Wednesday for Sokoto to conclude preparations for the African U-17 Championship slated to kick off in Republic of Niger on February 15.
According to the Secretary General of the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF), Musa Ahmadu, who told The Guardian Tuesday that the federation decided to camp the Golden Eaglets in Sokoto for two weeks ahead of the African cadet championship to afford the players time to acclimatize in the state, which shares similar hot and dry weather with the Republic of Niger.
Ahmadu said the federation was working hard to ensure the Eaglets got the best of preparation before arriving the tiny West African country on February 12, adding that the NFF also chose Sokoto for the team’s final camping to instill confidence on the young lads, some of who are competing in a major championship for the first time.
Ahmadu declared that the Coach Emmanuel Amuneke-led technical crew would be given all the necessary apparatus needed to excel in the championship.
“There is no cause for alarm as preparations are in top gear for the team to fly at the African championship,’’ he said
The Eaglets are drawn in Group A along with host Niger, Zambia and Guinea. They will have their first feel of the tournament against the host team in the opening march of the championship on February 15.
The top four teams from the competition will represent Africa at the 2015 FIFA U17 Cup in Chile in November.
