Age test failure forces Golden Eaglets to make changes to final squad for U17 AFCON

Coach Manu Garba has been forced to make several changes to his final 21-man squad for the U17 AFCON in Tanzania after several players from the zonal qualifiers failed the MRI age test.

ScoreNigeria reported that amongst the players who failed the test are Eaglets No 1 goalkeeper as well as the preferred fullbacks, while one of the key stars from the zonal qualifiers in Niger last September is on the border line of Grade 5.

The Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) barely beat Wednesday’s deadline for the submission of a final squad to the Confederation of African Football (CAF).

That way Nigeria avoided a hefty fine as well as losing two players that a late submission would have caused.

“The failure of the MRI test has affected the squad to Tanzania,” a top source informed SCORENIGERIA

“The defence was worst hit as the goalkeeper, preferred fullbacks were affected.

“Also, it seems the team will risk one of the outstanding players from the zonal qualifiers in Niger last year as he is on Grade 5.”

At last year’s qualifiers in Niamey, two players were disqualified on age grounds.

Another round of age tests will be conducted by CAF on the Eaglets arrival in Tanzania.