It’s been uncovered that not less than six of the players who featured for Nigeria at the African U17 Championship in Morocco in April have been ruled out of the World Cup in the United Arab Emirate (UAE), as a result of the latest Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) test conducted to ascertain their eligibility.
Meaning Nigeria will have to start the process of building a new team within the age limit for the FIFA U17 World Cup.
Of the 30 players tested officially, eight did not make the mark, which Fifa has set at 17-21 years of age (Grade 1-5), while six of the 17 self-sponsored players were ruled out.
“A good number of the players are on the border line and a call has to be taken on whether to risk them or let them go,” a top official revealed.
Some of the affected members of the team have already been sent parking from the camp.
The proposed friendly encounter between the Golden Eaglets and their UAE and Turkey counterparts may now have to be called off because of the uncertainties.
The Eaglets are currently having their training camp in Calabar ahead of the tournament which starts from October 17 to November 8.
The draw for the tournament comes up on August 26 in Abu Dhabi.
