The most successful team in the history of the FIFA U-17 World Cup Nigeria could be ban from the next two editions of the tournament if they fail to provide a team for the qualifiers.
Nigeria is in West Africa Zone B (WAFU-UFOA B) alongside Ghana, Burkina Faso, Côte d’Ivoire, Togo, Niger Republic and host of the qualifiers tournament Benin Republic. Nigeria won the last edition held in Niger Republic.
The tournament was originally scheduled to take place in September but it was shifted by a month due to the coronavirus pandemic that brought about lockdown in several countries.
It will now run from the 17th to 31st of October but while other teams have commenced preparations, the U17 team of Nigeria is presently without a coach hence no team on ground.
Since the expiration of the contract of former coach Manu Garba and his crew after the 2019 U17 World Cup, no coach has been appointed to steer the team for the qualifiers where only the champions qualify for the Africa U17 Cup of Nations which serves as qualifiers for the World Cup.
A member of CAF tournament committee told Owngoalnigeria.com that Nigeria will be expelled from the next two editions of the tournament if they don’t present a team according to the rules of the tournament.
According to him unless they officially communicate their withdrawal from the tournament then it’s inevitable that they will be banned as all member nations have been made aware of the new date.
Nigeria have won the U17 World Cup more than any team in the history of the tournament with five wins but unless they raise a team in the next one month they won’t be participating in the qualifiers.
Ade Emmanuel
