Eaglets on the march again

World Cup Under-17 Champions, Golden Eaglets of Nigeria are on the

march again as the screening of new players that would defend the

title won last year in the United Arab Emirates begins in Abuja on

Thursday.

The Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) has finalized arrangement for

the smooth take off of the usual gruelling exercise at the practice

pitch of the NFF/FIFA Goal Project Site.

Team Administrator, Tayo Egbaiyelo informed that players would be

called up in batches in order to create an enabling environment for

the coaching crew to pick the budding talents.

Speaking ahead of the exercise, Golden Eaglets' coach Emmanuel Amuneke

said he has combed the nooks and crannies of the country in the last

one month to fish out some raw talents.

The first batch of 35 players are due in camp on Wednesday in order

to commence the screening on Thursday. More than 4000 players took

part in similar exercise before the 2013 World Cup-winning team was

assembled by coach Manu Garba who was incidentally assisted by

Amuneke. The NFF recently promoted Garba and Nduka Ugbade to the

Under-20 team while leaving behind the duo of Amuneke and Emeka Amadi

(goalkeepers' trainer) to tinker with the Under-17s.

The 2015 CAN Under-17 Championship will be held in Niger. Golden

Eaglets are already drawn bye into the second round of the CAN Cadet

Championship by CAF and would meet the winner of the First Round tie

between Burundi and Congo DR with the first leg scheduled for July

18-20 while the reverse fixture will be held between August 1-3.