The Secretariat of the Plateau State Football Association is in a joyful mood after four players discovered from the Governor Caleb Manasseh Mutfwang Under-15 Tournament make the Nigeria Under-15 National team to Morocco where the team is scheduled to face their Moroccan counterparts in two international friendly games.
With Plateau State having four players out of the 22 players on this trip, the Plateau State Football Association ably led by Hon Dr Suleiman Yahaya Kwande are gradually fulfilling their pre-election promise of returning Plateau State to her glory days when they used to dominate invited players in both the Under-15, Under-17, Under-20 and the Super Eagles.
It would be recalled that the last time a player from Plateau State made any of the above mentioned national teams was about 13 years ago.
The Head of delegation to these two very important friendly matches in Morocco, Mr. Nasiru Jibril, who was in Jos for days in the middle of this year invited 17 players he and his team were able to fish out from the best assembled from the Governor Caleb Manasseh Mutfwang Under-15 Tournament. After serious screening in Abuja with the world started practice that included other players across the Nation, finally pocked four from the lot.
Players and officials of the Nigeria’s U-15 Boys, the Future Eagles, will depart the Country today, 11th December, 2024 for Morocco, where the team is scheduled to face their Moroccan counterparts in two international friendly games.
This will be the team’s first international experience since the inception of the FIFA Talent Development Scheme(TDS) in the Country.
Head of delegation, Mr. Nasiru Jibril said playing Morocco is a deliberate attempt and a pragmatic way of equipping the young talented players discovered in the country through the FIFA Talent Development Scheme. He noted that exposing the players to best facilities and playing internationally will further shape the country’s awakening with regards to the impending annual AFCON U-17 and annual FIFA U-17 tournaments.
In his words: “With the introduction of the annual U-17 AFCON and FIFA World Cup, it is going to be really difficult if we don’t have such programs going for us. I think the FIFA Talent Development Scheme has come at the right time, and is helpful to Nigeria football. Morocco is the place to which we have the most access, in terms of an organized place where we can go to and people who already have the same kind of project we have running. Therefore, it is easier and better for us to go and play their own team because they have a team similar to our own.”
22 FUTURE EAGLES FOR MOROCCO
Goalkeepers: Isaac Tomiwa (Mees Palace); Johnson Amaagudi (Ajarah FA); Somtochukwu Ibe (Adoration FC)
Defenders: Nicodemus Gideon (Relentless FA); Raphael Umah (Udi Stars FA); Luka Ephraim (Sporting Lagos); Muhammad Shamsudeen (Mavlon FC); Samuel Yusuf (Stormer FA)
Midfielders: Praise Averwosou (Morak FC); Uwem Bassey (2S Academy); Farwas Adeleke (Lanreleke FA); Raheem Salaudeen (Buruj FC); Kunle Tokode (White Caps FC, Canada); Ighodaro Dominion (Bendel Insurance Youth Team); Obasahon Emmanuel (Dynamo FA)
Forwards: Samuel Essien (PSports FA); Abubakar Abdulrazaq (Simon Ben FA); Ogar Timothy (Mavlon FC); Yusuf Saminu (Kano Pillars U15); Ebube Oyari (Sensational FA); Sha’Aban Musa (School Sports); Yusuf Auwal (Peace FA).
