NPFL U17 team begins final selection phase
The Nigeria Premier Football League (NPFL) U17 boys’ team is streamlining its squad as it prepares for a tour of Spain. Out of the 50 players initially invited to camp, only 25 will make the final roster.
Following recent friendlies in Abuja, where the team drew one match and lost another, the coaching staff has started to trim down the squad. The latest decision saw several players being released for not meeting the required skill levels.
Assistant Coach Ken Chukwu spoke after their 1-3 defeat to Central Football Academy at the FIFA Goal Project in Abuja. He emphasised that the current phase is crucial for evaluating players. “We are still in the selection process. While we don’t like losing, it’s part of football. What matters is improving the team,” Chuku said.
He added, “The result of the match is less important than the process of building the team. We need more friendly matches to get better.”
The coaching team is focusing on assessing each player’s performance by giving them 45-minute opportunities on the pitch. Players who don’t meet the standards are being released to make way for others.
The final team will be selected in the next 14 days before their European tour, where they will face Sevilla, Atletico Madrid, and other U17 La Liga teams in Spain.
