The recent invitation of Kano Pillars and Nigeria U20 midfielder Alhassan Ibrahim to the B team of the senior national team of Nigeria for the game against Atletico Madrid has swelled the number of U17 players coached by Manu Garba.
Garba who is presently the head coach of the Nigeria U17 team has in the past groomed ten players who have all made it to the senior national team of Nigeria particularly from his all conquering U17 team of 2013.
Kelechi Iheanacho, Wilfred Ndidi, Alhassan ‘Mu’azam ‘ Ibrahim, Dele Alampasu, Isaac Success, Chidiebere Nwakali, Ifeanyi Matthew, Ifeanyi Ifeanyi, Kingsley Sokari and Francis Uzoho all played under the soft spoken coach during their formative years with the youth team of Nigeria.
Ibrahim is however the first player from his squad of 2016 that failed to qualify for the U17 African Youth Championship to be called up to the senior team of Nigeria owing to his strong display for Kano Pillars this season.
He has grown into one of the influential players of the Kano based side, and effectively has made the team not to rely too much on club legend Rabiu Ali who has been the main playmaker of the team the past 11 years.
Presently a member of the Nigeria U20 team, Ibrahim one of the two players from the team of 2016 in the team of coach Paul Aigbogun, the other being Nazifi Yahaya who recently returned from trials in Denmark with Brondby.
Osas Mahawi
