The coach of the U20 team of Uganda has called on the Confederation of African Football (CAF) to do something about the Nigerian team, after his team’s 0-1 loss to Nigeria in the quarter finals of the ongoing Africa U20 Cup of Nations in Egypt as reported by OGN.
Jackson Mayanja while speaking at the post match conference lamented the fact that his team won’t be at the World Cup following their failure to make it to the semi final of the tournament, but said they lost to a Nigerian team who are older than his team.
It is the second time such an allegation has been labeled on the Nigerian team with the goalkeeper coach of Egypt Ehab Galal alleging the same thing after his team crashed out of the tournament at the group state despite being the host.
Let’s take a detailed look at the Nigerian team.
Goalkeepers: Nathaniel Nwosu, Chijioke Anigboso, Saheed Akanbi.
OGN- Akanbi graduated from the last U17 team while Anigboso also trained with the 2019 U17 team. Nwosu plays for local Abuja side Water FC. All three players can’t be said to be above the age limit based on our knowledge.
Defenders: Daniel Bamaiyi, Michael Ologo, Abel Ogwuche, Solomon Agbalaka, Augustine Njoku, Benjamin Frederick.
OGN – Bameyi plays non league football for Yum Yum FC. Agbalaka was at MFM last season in what was his debut season as a professional footballer. Don’t be deceived by his beards as his age has stayed the same way for three years now. There is a story on Frederick three years ago when he made the breakthrough at Simoiben Football Academy. Age still remains the way it is.
Njoku is a product of the NPFL U15 with Abia Warriors. Ogwuche has no history with any level of league football in Nigeria. He was scouted at Triple 444 Academy by Swedish side Trelleborgs, where he currently plays. Again from what we know none of the defenders can be said to be above the age limit.
Midfielders: Daniel Daga, Onuche Ogbelu, Mohammed Aminu, Jonathan Nicholas, Caleb Ochedikwu, Samson Lawal.
OGN – Daga was originally billed to train with the U17 team but he performed admirably well and was kept with the U20s. Onuche’s case is even more public as he recently wrote his final senior secondary school examination. Aminu is in his first season with Gombe United. At a point this season he was almost dropped for being too young to cope with the physical demands of the NPFL. Lawal had a six months stint with Katsina United last season. His first ever in the NPFL.
Jonathan was at NNL side Ottasolo last season but didn’t get to play games regularly with the coaches not sold out on him on the claims of being too young. He was sent back to Simoiben FC. Caleb hasn’t played any professional football in Nigeria.
Forwards: Jude Sunday, Ahmed Abdullahi, Adams Olamilekan, Haliru Sarki, Emmanuel Uchegbu, Ibrahim Mohammed ‘Ibeji’, Ayuba Francis.
OGN- None of the forward has played more than a season in the NPFL bar Adams Olamilekan whose age has been the same for the past two years. Francis like Uchegbu is in his debut season in the NPFL. Sarki and Abdullahi are both graduate from the last U17 team.
Sunday has no record of playing any level of professional football in Nigeria.
Overall Verdict: The fastest way to know if a player is over the age in Nigeria is by looking at how long they have been around the professional teams in Nigeria. From the above it’s clear to see that this team is probably among the youngest ever presented by Nigeria at this level.
Mohammed Mowiz.
