The recently released list of players for the Nigeria U23 team of their AFCON Qualifiers against Tanzania has thrown up more questions than answers with as many as nine players above the age limit.
Yesterday coach of the Nigerian team Salisu Yusuf released a list of 32 players who will report to the camp of the team in Ibadan, where they will camp and also play their home games of the qualifiers.
The team is expected to face Tanzania with the first leg holding in Dar es Salaam in the weekend of 21st- 23rd October. The reverse fixture is billed for the Lekan Salami Stadium, Adamasingba Ibadan on Saturday, October 29.
However per checks made by OwnGoalNigeria.com senior editor Mohammed Mowiz Suleiman as many as nine players in the team are above the age limit for the tournament.
” We keep doing same mistake and now it’s even more worrisome because the game of less than two weeks away and aside from the fact that players who are involved in continental games with their respective NPFL teams won’t be released, some of the players are above the age limit”, Mowiz said.
” Players born 1 January 2001 or later are the ones eligible to play in the qualifiers and the subsequent tournament but in the list we have nine players that I am sure are above the age limit. It could be more if the list is properly checked. I won’t mention names but the authority involved should do their job correctly”, he rounded up saying.
ALL 32 PLAYERS INVITED TO CAMP:
Goalkeepers: Kayode Bankole (Remo Stars); Nathaniel Nwosu (Water FC); Edwin Emelan (Calabar Rovers); Amah John (Box-To-Box FC)
Defenders: Bamayi Calocho (Yumyum FC); Bello Babatunde (Akwa United); James Ajako (Akwa United); Yazid Adamu (MY Jamil FC); Tosin Adegbite (Enyimba FC); Christopher Nwenze (Plateau United); Isaiah Ejeh (Kwara United); Anas Hassan (Vandrezzer FC)
Midfielders: Maurice Chukwu (Rivers United); Uche Ogonna (Campos FC); Haggai Katoh (Plateau United); Olamilekan Adebayo (Remo Stars); Suleiman Abdullahi (Gladano FC); Naziru Awwal (Rangers Int’l); Adam Yakubu (Akwa United); Joshua Alechenu (Nasarawa United); Suleiman Garba Kirki (Kebbi United)
Forwards: Kalu Samuel (Enyimba FC); Edwin John (Water FC); Chisom Orji (Colins Edwin FC); Chidiebere Nwobodo (Rangers Int’l); Ogbuehi Nzuebuchi (Campos FC); Jerry Alex (Kano Pillars); Mustapha Jibrin (Abia Warriors); Ademola Adebabam (Ottasolo FC); Abdulsalam Abdulasalam (Shooting Stars); Zulkifilu Mohammed (Plateau United); Jonathan Alukwe (Heartland FC)