Golden Eaglets camp opens in Abuja on Sunday

Nigeria’s U17 national team, the Golden Eaglets, will resume camping in Abuja on Sunday.

This was disclosed by officials of the team.

The head coach of the team, Emmanuel Amuneke, said fresh opportunities would be given to new players as the Eaglets intensify preparations ahead of the African cadet championship which will hold in the Republic of Niger from February 15 to March 1, 2015.

Amuneke, a former Super Eagles player, noted that the next two weeks would be used to ascertain the fitness level and condition of the older players.

He said it was necessary to fortify the team in view of the challenges expected at the tournament.

The Golden Eaglets were close to winning the 2013 CAN Under-17 Championship but were beaten 5-4 by Junior Elephants of Cote d’Ivoire after a pulsating 1-1 draw in Marrakech, Morocco.

“The peculiar nature of the Under-17 category means that we would continue to work with most of the players that have been with us for some time now,” the coach was quoted in a press statement signed by the team’s Spokesperson Morakinyo Abodunrin.

Amuneke, the 1994 African Footballer of the Year, also added that his major objective was to secure a ticket for next FIFA World Cup in Chile hence the desire to give as many eligible players the chance to vie for shirts in his team.

“We have not foreclosed the chances for others to break into the team since we need to present a very good team because our objective first and foremost is to secure one of the tickets for the next FIFA Under-17 World Cup in Chile,” he said.

The team would begin its training session on Monday at the FIFA Goal Project Pitch and officials hinted that only those who are invited would be taken care of while others who want to be screened would cater for their own welfare.

Nigeria remains one of the most successful country in the U-17 cadre, winning her fourth title at the 2013 FIFA U17 World Cup held in the United Arab Emirates.