The coaching staff of Nigeria’s Premier Football League (NPFL) U17 boys team has started narrowing down their squad ahead of their European tour.
Out of the 50 players initially invited to camp, only 25 will make the final roster. This decision follows a series of assessments where some players did not meet the required standards.
The NPFL U17 team has yet to secure a win in their recent friendly matches, drawing one and losing the other. Their most recent game ended in a 1-3 defeat to Central Football Academy at the FIFA Goal Project in Abuja on Saturday.
Assistant Coach Ken Chuku commented on the ongoing selection process, stating, “We are still in the selection phase. Although we lost, it’s part of the process. In football, you win some, you lose some. What matters now is building the team.”
Chuku emphasised that the results of the friendly matches are secondary to the team’s development. “The matches are helping us improve the team. We need more friendlies to fine-tune our squad. We are working hard to ensure the team is well-prepared before our departure for Spain.”
The U17 team is scheduled to tour Europe, where they will face clubs like Sevilla and Atletico Madrid, as well as other youth teams from La Liga. The selection process will continue over the next 14 days, with the aim of finalizing the squad and ensuring they are ready for the tour.
