Golden Eaglets start screening in Abuja

by Esther Egbe
World Cup Under-17 Champions, Golden Eaglets of Nigeria are on the
march again as the screening of new players that would defend the
title won last year in the United Arab Emirates  begins in Abuja on
Thursday.
The Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) has finalized arrangement for
the smooth take off of the usual gruelling exercise at the practice
pitch of the NFF/FIFA Goal Project Site.
Team Administrator, Tayo Egbaiyelo informed that players would be
called up in batches in order to create an enabling environment for
the coaching crew to pick the budding talents.
Speaking ahead of the exercise, Golden Eaglets' coach Emmanuel Amuneke
said he has combed the nooks and crannies of the country in the last
one month to fish out some raw talents.
The first batch of 35 players are  due in camp on Wednesday in order
to commence the screening on Thursday. More than 4000 players took
part in similar exercise before the 2013 World Cup-winning team was
assembled by coach Manu Garba  who was incidentally assisted by
Amuneke. The NFF recently promoted Garba and Nduka Ugbade to the
Under-20 team while leaving behind the duo of Amuneke and Emeka Amadi
(goalkeepers' trainer) to tinker with the Under-17s.
The 2015 CAN Under-17 Championship will be held in Niger. Golden
Eaglets are already drawn bye into the second round of the CAN Cadet
Championship by CAF  and would meet the winner of the First Round tie
between Burundi and Congo DR with the first leg scheduled for July
18-20 while the reverse fixture will be held between August 1-3.