Former Nigeria midfielder, Sani Kaita,
has appealed to the Nigeria Football Federation to allow the national
Under-20 team remain together, saying the team should progress to the
Under-23 level.
Nigeria, 2015 champions of the CAF U-20
Africa Cup of Nations, failed to qualify for Zambia 2017 after losing to
Sudan 4-3 at home after they won the first leg 2-1. But they lost out
on away goals rule after the 5-5 aggregate score line.
Kaita, who won a silver with the Flying
Eagles at the 2005 U-20 World Cup, told our correspondent that the team
was unlucky to have lost out of the race, adding that the NFF should
allow the players play more matches together and grow into the Under-23
team.
“It is very painful to see that Nigeria
will not be at another competition next year. The team really tried
because that was the only match they lost in the qualifiers. Playing in
the rain is really tough and playing on an artificial turf could also be
very tricky. They were just unlucky to have lost that match,” he said.
“What I believe they can do is that the
NFF should allow the players remain together because they are the future
of the country’s football. They should be allowed to grow into the
Under-23 even though there is no big competition for that level yet.
“If they are allowed to go, the players
will lose touch of what they know and the opportunity to have them for
the Super Eagles may be lost.”
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