As many as 300 players were sent packing on the first day of screening by the Nigeria U17 team after they were facially deemed to be over-age for the team.
“It was simply crazy – many old players simply descended on the training camp hoping to be picked for the team, but they were promptly sent away merely by looking at their hardened faces,” said one team official.
Coach Manu Garba began an open screening for a new set of Golden Eaglets in Abuja on Monday.
The exercise is expected to run for three weeks.
The five-time world champions are expected to begin qualification for next year’s U17 AFCON in Madagascar with a road trip to Niger in August.
