NFF Drops Ejike From Golden Eaglets For Testing With Liverpool; Messi For Being Too Fragile

Gee Lec Football Academy of Jos attacking midfielder Chidera Ejike has been dropped from the Golden Eaglets squad who are training in Abuja ahead of the Africa U-17 Cup of Nations qualifier against Niger Republic.

Despite impressing the Nigeria U17s coaching staff led by Manu Garba during training, Ejike was axed from the 60-player shortlist because he tested with English Premier League club Liverpool in April.

A top source told allnigeriasoccer.com : “Chidera Ejike was one of the fantastic players in the camp, very good player.

“Robinson Okosun, one of the NFF officials that came to supervise the screening, argued that there’s no way he can play for the U17s because he has trained with Liverpool . They said he is too old and forged his birth certificate. ”

Chidera Ejike wasn’t the only exciting youngster dropped from the squad for a flimsy excuse, with the three assistant directors of the NFF that coordinated the exercise also recommending that “Messi” should not make the team for being too young.

“They dropped another fantastic player simply called Messi, he plays from the left and right wing. if you see him I don’t think he’s taller than a fridge. They dropped him not because he is not good but he is too small.

“He was playing regularly and having a nice time in camp. He is really U17, he was crying when he was dropped. It will do harm to his psychology, ” he added.

“Messi” was one of the players recommended to Manu Garba by deceased NFF Technical Director Amodu Shuaibu.

Ifeanyi Emmanuel