As part of its youth talent development programme, the Nigeria Football Federation has successfully completed a two-week training for the National U15 Boys, otherwise known as Future Eagles in Abuja.
The training is in line with FIFA’s Talent Development Scheme (TDS) initiative aimed at creating a sustainable legacy for long-term talent development in the country.
Head of TDS delegation in Nigeria and a former Nigeria international Mr. Nasiru Jibril, said the programme is a welcome development as it will serve as a pathway for children between ages 12-15 to showcase themselves and be discovered.
The TDS project has as its main goal, the target to help raise the standards of national team football around the world for both men and women, which is driven by FIFA’s desire for a long-term dedication to global talent development.
Jibril expressed confidence that the programme will form the major channel for supplies to the nation’s senior national teams in no distant time.
“Talent Development Scheme (TDS) is a project initiated by FIFA in all countries of the world to benefit places like Africa. Presently, we are trying to go round and give every single child the opportunity to showcase their talent. Players from the ages of 12, 13, and 14 are the ones we are bringing to this centre so we can pick the best out of them and build them into a group where the national teams will be getting supplies from.
“From 2025, the U17 AFCON will become an annual project, and if there is no programme like this, any country may struggle in assembling the best legs to represent her,” he said.
Also speaking, Head Coach of Nigeria’s U15 national team, Mr Patrick Bassey said the process of recruitment has been transparent with merit as key factor, without any form of bias or sentiments.
“In the selection of the players, there has not been any sentiment; every player that was scouted and brought here has the talent, the skill and the commitment to the game. I believe these players will be very useful to the nation in the long run,” Bassey said.
A total of 120 players divided into two batches were invited to camp for the first phase of the programme, with 40 players to be selected for another schedule before the end of the year, according to Coach Bassey.
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