This thread has been on my mind for a while, but I chose to post it now because of the ignorance that was allowed to grace the Front Page titled 'Papa Eaglets and Nigerian Cheating'.

https://www.nairaland.com/2742884/papa-eaglets-cheating-culture


First off, I have come to realise that Nigerians hate themselves and hate to see or hear of any progress in relation to their country, so they choose to make unfounded accusations on a team of dedicated, hard working BOYS whose only crime was bringing rare glory to a nation in turmoil. Yes, the purpose of this thread is to tackle claims that Nigerian age grade players are far older than their peers.

The people who make these claims do so based on the sole point that the KIDS eventually fail to realise their potential and fall by the way as opposed to their peers. They then give examples of Stanley Okoro, Macauley Chrisantus and Sani Emmanuel.



Let me first point out the fact that Administrative Errors on the part of the NFF as far as monitoring the progress of these players is one reason why these players don't progress.

Another is the poor state of the Nigerian league and lack of world class academies. While the players from S/America and Europe remain home for at least 2 years, playing competitively in their leagues, Nigerian players are hurriedly shipped to Europe where these KIDS have to deal with culture shock as well as work to prove their mettle or get shipped off once again, they're given little opportunity to do this compared to their foreign counterparts, that is too much expectations on kids who less than a year ago, mostly played the game for the fun of it

There is also that poverty mentality. The truth is most of these kids are from poor homes, we just read of Osimhen who was a hawker before the WC, hence, their immediate need is to get the cash to help out family irrespective of the working conditions, and we know well how African families are; once one person makes some cash, the entire extended family will relax, afterall "our brother is a big footballer in Europe".
So, a child of 16-18 becomes the bread winner of at least 10 people at home, so he has to pay his bro's fees, but Uncle Mike's child too has a business he needs money for, all of that pressure can damage that focus and passion for footy, y'all saw how Adebayor's issues panned out, how much more a kid?

Thirdly, Contrary to what many prefer to lie about, no, Nigeria doesn't have a history of failed age grade players. One guy claimed that every member of England's U-17 team of '09 have good careers, but I checked and found that only Danny Welbeck and Victor Moses can be counted in that team.

Let us remember that Chrisantus and Stanley are 2 of hundreds of age grade players from Nigeria, remember players like Kanu, Enyeama, Yobo, Onazi, Mikel, Omeruo, Musa and most recently, Iheanacho all played age grade football and were active for as long as required.

Maybe we don't have Messi or Di Maria, but even if everyone goes back to check on their mates from Secondary School you'll find that everyone didn't progress equally, in fact, in some sets, the best student then is doing badly now compared to the average and even poor students.

That is life for you, people with potential will fall, nobodies will rise. The likes of Dangote, Osibanjo, Zuckerberg, Oprah probably weren't potential pace setters while in school, but look at them now.

Please, Nigerians, stop slandering your own. Sweden brought Berisha, Brazil brought Mosquito and Mexico had Ochoa 2 years ago, where are they now compared to Kelechi? Did 2 of them not have beards? What about the Mexican captain this year? He had a full beard, but did Mexicans call themselves age cheats? No sane father would stone his son in the market square because others are doing it.

Protect what little is left of our dignity as a nation. Cc Joseph1013, terzurum, icon4s, thegoodjoe, thesupernerd, blueto, bascovanveli

As far as most Nigerians are concern, they are never happy seeing some individuals succeed due to either tribal or religious differences. That's BTW.
...
What I really wanted to type is Nigerians seem to act holier when not necessary.
...
Also, to feel good whenever the team is underperforming, they ridicule our team even when they perform beyond expectation.
Now, imagine a full blooded Nigerian telling me his first team is Argentina while Spain is second.(in his words) Now, what does he stand to gain from their victory?
**MODIFIED**
FTC...I can see everyone's head from here...No special feelings.

Infact I was so disappointed in the moderator that moved that trash called a thread on "Papa Eaglets" .... whatever whatever. It is a shame that nairaland moderators pushed such a story without proofs and facts to the front page.

The other day some were voting Diego Cortes' goal as d best at d U17 WC all in d name of fairness.

I personally decided nt to join words with such people. I met with most of d 2013 U17 before d WC then. I must confess THOSE BOYS WERE U17, U can take dat to d bank.

hmmm.you hv done well dear.you know one thing with our Nigerians is dat they want to be corrected in every thing .and i tank God dat there is still sumbody lyk you to correct us.

Icon4s:
Infact I was so disappointed in the moderator that moved that trash called a thread on "Papa Eaglets" .... whatever whatever. It is a shame that nairaland moderators pushed such a story without proofs and facts to the front page.

The other day some were voting Diego Cortes' goal as d best at d U17 WC all in d name of fairness.

I personally decided nt to join words with such people. I met with most of d 2013 U17 before d WC then. I must confess THOSE BOYS WERE U17, U can take dat to d bank.

honestly, I saw that thread this morning and didn't even open it because I knew it would be riddled with mind-boggling ignorance. That a mod would move such trash to the Frontpage of an international site like NL is disgraceful. Tomorrow, when a Ghanaian ridicules Nigeria, we'll be blowing steam as if we didn't bring the insult upon ourselves

TheGoodJoe:
Picture of the so called Papa Eaglets. Two years after the U17 in 2013.

Haters can only hate, while those with faith move mountains.

cc: lalasticlala.

I wonder o.....these small children

^^^ These pix u guys have displayed were taken 2yrs after the U17. They were already U20 in d pix.

It baffles me when some malnourished, myopic peeps here say these kids are nt less than 25yrs.

It is that shameless mode that that took that trash to front page that I am still blaming. Nairaland that is viewed world-wide by different nationals.Every topic here can be assessed through google.

Mods una mess up big time.U guys can ban me if una like. Nonsense.

^^^^abeg help me talk am. Tomorrow when I say make Seun give me mod work, e go be like say na play, see the incompetent person that posted that rubbish on FP......I swear the thing is still annoying me

Look, I've tried all I can with long epistles to kick out the "negativity" and "lies" in the minds of most Nigerians.

The mindset is so wrong!!!

It's really Crazy!!! When the "facts" are clear, they try to debunk them with "unintelligent" comments like, "bros or sister, this na Naija. Anything can happen..... Bla bla bla"

Why can't Nigerians stop living in the past and open their eyes to see that "change" has come?

Why can't Nigerians see "the light"? Why can't Nigerians see that a new era of true young talents were born in 2013 and that has carried on into 2015 and more will still follow?

The MRI Screening (which checks the fusion of Growth plates in the joint of the left wrist--- can be done for other joints also) is, on the whole, 99% accurate for 16-17 year olds whose epiphyseal growth plates is yet to fuse.

If the
growth plate areas (epiphyses) are still open then
the player is still within the age limit of 17 because
research shows that players with growth plates yet
to fuse at the wrists are 99% super-likely or most certainly 17 or
less. The likelihood of such a one being 18 or more
is 1% (due to rare biological variations).


Also, players with fused growth plates at the wrist or
in any other bone region around any joint are 1%
likely to be 17 or less. Meaning they're 99% likely to
be overaged (over 17).
And we all know a teenager's growth between 14
and 18/19 can be very rapid and exponential.



Why is the average Nigerian so mediocritic?? Why the hate? Why the envy?

It's tiring. It's sickening. It's irritating.

Gosh!!!! I'm done talking. No more of this for me. Let everyone believe whatever they wanna believe. I got a world to conquer and I'm sure these boys got big dreams to actualize too. Let Nigerians keep hating while the "Bright-minded ones" like us keep soaring.

Such a pity.


P.S: MRI was introduced in 2009 but used fairly randomly. It became "fully applied" from the 2011 U-17 edition and remains so till date.

TheSuperNerd:
Look, I've tried all I can with long epistles to kick out the "negativity" and "lies" in the minds of most Nigerians.

The mindset is so wrong!!!

It's really Crazy!!! When the "facts" are clear, they try to debunk them with "unintelligent" comments like, "bros or sister, this na Naija. Anything can happen..... Bla bla bla"

Why can't Nigerians stop living in the past and open their eyes to see that "change" has come?

Why can't Nigerians see "the light"? Why can't Nigerians see that a new era of true young talents were born in 2013 and that has carried on into 2015 and will more will still follow?

Why is the average Nigerian so mediocritic?? Why the hate? Why the envy?

It's tiring. It's sickening. It's irritating.

Gosh!!!! I'm done talking. No more of this for me. Let everyone believe whatever they wanna believe. I got a world to conquer and I'm sure these boys got big dreams to actualize too. Let Nigerians keep hating while the "Bright-minded ones" like us keep soaring.

Such a pity.

Don't mind those eediots! They are not real followers of our national teams. Bc there is an international break they now have time to type trash abt d Golden Eaglets. They keep dwelling in d past. Some don't even know that there is something called FIFA MRI scan.

I swear if any team of investigators is set up by FIFA to investigate the results of d MRI test on d eaglets due to comments from these moronic Nigerians, I am going to deactivite my account from this site and leave. I cannot b in association with pple who all dey do is to plot d downfall of there own country men.

http://eaglecity..nl/2015/11/nigerias-u17-asking-brain-to-think.html?spref=tw&m=1

NIGERIA'S U-17: ASKING THE BRAIN TO THINK….
by Chuka Onwumechili

Nigeria has dominated the FIFA U17 World Cup but has done very little in the senior World Cup that many, both Nigerians and non-Nigerians, have raised serious questions. Most of these questions revolve around the allegation that Nigeria uses over-age players to win the competition. In this piece, we address these allegations in various ways. To do this in any meaningful way, we begin by describing Nigeria's success under two periods, the pre-MRI and the post-MRI; then we review the MRI test; explain Nigeria's dominance at U17 level; analyze the hypothesized link between U17 performance and World Cup dominance at the highest level; and close by assessing how Nigeria should address some issues.

The Past (Pre-MRI Era)

For us, the past covers the pre-Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) era. There is little doubt that Nigeria took
advantage of lax control in the area of birth certifications to field over age players at the U17 levels during this
period. To be sure, it was not just Nigeria. Several countries including the likes of Brazil, Syria, Iraq, Mexico, Ghana,
Ecuador, and Guinea were all involved in using over age players during this period. Allegations and investigations
which were often based on submission of conflicting birth dates and the like led to suspensions, at varying times, of
countries like Nigeria and Mexico as well as others.

The MRI Test

The frequency of allegations of age cheating led FIFA to commission tests on ways to curb the problem because reliance on birth certificates was no longer effective. MRI on the wrist was recommended but it needed to be tested. There are other reliable tests such as ultrasonography on the wrist. The MRI test team, led by Chairman of FIFA's Medical and Research Centre (F-MARC), Jiri Dvorak, conducted several tests and ensured that it cut across ethnic differences by conducting pilot studies of players in Tanzania, Brazil, Canada, Thailand, and Belgium. The study involved MRIs on the wrist to help determine Skeletal Age (SA). Results required raters to blindly (i.e. without knowledge of player name, age, or country) determine probable age from results of the MRI. This helped establish six grades that ranged from I (completely unfused wrist bone or distal radius) to VI (full fusion of the wrist bone) and high probability that the player is over the age of 17. However, note that there are errors associated with the test results.

See Table 1 (from Dvorak's study) published in the British Journal for Sports Medicine .

It shows that a player between ages 18 and 19 years may pass the test by having an unfused wrist bone but the probability of doing so lessens as the true age of the player increases. Conversely, a player between the ages of 16 and 17 may also fail the test but the probability of this is less than 1%. However, because FIFA U17 competition allows grades I-V fusion it also means that more than 80% of those 18-19 years pass the test! That is a huge number but note that there is a risk in using players who are MRI grade V because they may transition to grade VI between test date during qualifiers and tests at tournament time and thus are ineligible.

As many as 58% of 18-19 year olds fall under grade V. Notwithstanding, because of eligible birthdate for FIFA's U17 competition, those slightly over 17 years old at the start of the competition are deemed eligible by FIFA to participate in U17 World Cup. In essence, the "U17 World Cup" is not truly a tournament for players below the age of 17.

[img]http://2.bp..com/-vnUVeHZFHmc/Vj6_JBg6n-I/AAAAAAAAASE/NVQOsz8BcSE/s1600/U17%2BTab%2B1%2B1.jpeg[/img]


In any case, FIFA's MRI scans at U17 World Cups of 2003 and 2005 revealed that as many as 35% of players in
those competitions were over the age limit. In essence, one of every 3 players in those competitions was over age.
That is a staggering number that is not limited to whether such a player was from Africa or Europe or Asia, or
wherever. Fortunately, the introduction of MRI tests has actually reduced the number of players who fail the test
which means that there is a high probability of less age cheating because of the tests. Comparative results between
FIFA's U17 of 2003 and 2005 obtained from Dvorak's tests confirm this. While 35% of participants were grade VI in
2003, in 2005 the number for grade VI fell to 18%.

The Present (MRI Era)

The use of MRI test was fully employed from 2009 but through random tests. Since then, these tests have not only
been done at the national level but at continental and FIFA levels as well. For instance, just two years ago, CAF
tests eliminated three players each from Nigeria, Ivory Coast, and Congo Brazzaville from participation at the 2013
U17 African Championship in Morocco. Players failing such a test at the place of competition cannot be replaced by
their team. The results have been encouraging. MRI tests has discouraged participation of players who are unlikely
to pass the test. The effect for Nigeria is that it has forced the country to formally identify and groom players from a
younger age in U13 and U15 teams. This gives the Federation confidence that there exists a capable pool of players,
within the needed age limit, from which it can select a U17 team.

Explaining Why Nigeria Continues to do Well at U17 Level

The question then is why is there persistence in allegations of age cheating leveled against Nigeria? It appears that
this results from two major reasons. (1) That footballer falsification of age-related documentation is still high in
Nigeria, and (2) That it seems implausible that Nigeria can dominate the world at U17 level but is below average at
the senior level.

However, the fact that age-falsification is rampant in Nigeria does not automatically mean that it is rampant in the
U17 team. There are reasons why one does not necessarily lead to the other. First, the age-falsification that goes on
is often related to the need to present a young age in order to earn a contract in Europe. Often, European clubs
would rely on birth certifications and paper-based records and not the MRI test. Thus, the environment is similar to
what occurred in the U17 World Cups prior to the MRI era. Such an environment encourages age falsification.

However, it is more difficult to do so in U17 World Cup today where independent scientific verification is possible.
Thus, it is unlikely that such rampancy occurs for Nigeria at the U17 World Cup level.

However, a significant number of Nigerian fans believe that it does not make sense that Nigeria dominates at U17
level but is lame at other levels. Thus, this leads to the belief that such domination must be based on the use of
over the age limit players. But is that really logical? I would say the answer is NO and here are reasons why:

1. At the youth level, the number of hours playing football is a huge plus. Here, I urge you to read one or both of the
following books -- Malcolm Gladwell's Outliers and Anders Ericsson's The Role of Deliberate Practice in the Acquisition
of Expert Performance . In Nigeria, youth life is hardly as regimented or regulated as in several Western countries.
Nigerian youths play football any where and at any time for several hours a day unsupervised and, thus,
accumulates needed hours of practice and expertise. In several Western countries, parents have to often take their
children to practice for few hours and in perhaps 2-3 days a week. Compare those few hours of practice to hours of
practice in Nigeria. Of course, hours spent in the academies in Western countries may mirror the hours in Nigeria but
how many players are in academies from which U17 players will be selected? Thus, on hours alone, there should be
no surprise that youth players in Nigeria would be at a prime performance level.

2. The number of hours that a team plays together is also a huge plus at all levels of football. Furthermore, several
countries do not prioritize national youth football teams and thus, players spend more time at their club academies
than in national youth team camps. In Nigeria, however, the opposite is often the case, the national youth team is in
camp for several months! Importantly, youth football is a priority that generates a huge interest and following rarely
achieved in most non-African countries.

Link Between U17 and the FIFA World Cup

While, the two conditions above make it easier to understand the high level of performance by Nigeria at the U17
level, it remains important to address other issues projected erroneously and mindlessly repeated by the Nigerian
press. I address them below:

1. "The reason why Nigerian stars at U17 level do not develop at the Super Eagles level is because they were over
age when playing at U17 level" --- This is false and is not based on any factual information or compelling analysis. I
examined all players declared the best player at previous FIFA U17 World Cups and also examined their post-
tournament careers (see Table 2). Five of 13 such players (not counting 2011 and 2013 winners since their career
just commenced) have had reasonable careers. The other 8 had poor post-tournament careers (rated Average to
Outstanding). The worst of them was the non-Nigerian -- James Will of Scotland -- named MVP back in 1989 but who
made no appearances for Arsenal or Sheffield United and ended up playing only 8 times for low-level clubs such as
Dumfermline and Turriff until 2008. There was also Spain's Sergio Santamaria who made only 6 appearances for
Barcelona A team and languished in the B and C team until 2011.

The reality is that star players flaming out at the senior level is not and should not be surprising. Biological changes
in growth from 17 to 20 years old and over may affect performance in many ways. Furthermore, in the case of
Nigeria, players going to obscure European clubs may push their career in a downward trajectory and in certain
cases a player choosing to be largely club less while waiting for a big European contract has the same effect. In
fact, one may argue that a player who is over 20 and has been a successful performer before being illegally used at
U17 level is more likely to perform well post-tournament because he will experience less dramatic biological changes
that would stunt his performance.

[img]http://4.bp..com/-eRTbQFU-5Uc/Vj6_c6NpRLI/AAAAAAAAASM/fI-C24mjRK4/s1600/U17%2BTab%2B2.jpeg[/img]

2. "The reason Nigeria's success at U17 level has not translated to success at the senior level is because Nigeria
uses over age players at U17 level" --- This linear expectation that a country performing well (win) at the U17 level
will also do the same at the senior level, is largely unsupported by data. There is far more correlation between
performance at the older youth levels (e.g. U20 and U23) with the senior World Cup than at the U17 and the World
Cup. Table 3 shows that the dominant World Cup teams have only won four U17 World Cups. This includes Brazil
that has used over age players at the U17 level prior to MRI testing. After the MRI tests began, Brazil has failed to
win just yet. The rest -- Nigeria, old Soviet Union, Saudi Arabia, Ghana, Mexico, and Switzerland -- have not done
much at the senior World Cup level. Table 3 shows that most teams that won the U17 World Cup have not gone
beyond the second round (a feat also achieved by Nigeria) of the next two senior World Cups when most of those
U17 are anticipated to be actively playing. The only exception is Brazil and even then the quarter final World Cup
positions are mediocre for Brazil.

[img]http://4.bp..com/-gKHnW4TtRNs/Vj6_pdtxzjI/AAAAAAAAASU/pXOwwZlS-RU/s1600/U17%2BTab%2B3.jpeg[/img]

It is difficult to explain why a certain group of countries has continued to dominate the senior World Cup. However,
one thing is common among those countries and that is World Cup winners often base an estimated 70-100% of their
winning squad on players who are based at home. The only exception were the winning squads of 1994, 1998, and
2002. Those three squads, however, had close to 50% of their squad drawn from home. All other World Cups have
squads crafted from players drawn from their home league. Why may this be important? It means that many of those
players play for a few select clubs and have trained together. That should never be underestimated particularly in a
world where national teams only train together a few days before important games.

Issues that Nigeria Should Think About and Seek Solutions

Here the focus should be on how to build a strong senior national team and going beyond domination of global U17
football. There are no easy answers as we have already noted above with our analysis. There are a few things that
should be apparent, however. One is that the idea of keeping a U17 team together is a nonstarter noting inevitable
biological changes as players mature and also noting that other players who may not have been good at U17 will
invariably emerge. Two, success at all levels depend on long term training together. It has brought success at U17
level but the lack of such opportunity at senior level has also led to failures. This cannot be easily addressed
because of economic considerations of world football, which forces football labor migration from poor financial
compensation locations like Nigeria to high centers of financial compensation. This migration of leads to talent
fragmentalization for nations like Nigeria.

Ok

Yeah

Wow! Eye opener.
However the case, I don't think Nigeria's dominance results from using over-aged players. Has anyone heard of the any players in the Swiss team that won the tournament back then in Nigeria?
The quality of football in the u17 category is just enough to allow Nigeria win. Higher quality football at the senior levels requires more playing/training hours with specifics on tactics and strategy. Nigeria hasn't got its head around this.
If anyone should want to raise flags about age cheaters, it should be with the Brazilian team that hasn't won the cup again post-MRI.
Whatever the case though, I believe there's high likelihood the Nigerians are older than 17. MRI doesn't put a cut-off at 17. It will still allow 18, 19, 20 and sometimes 21 pass. Is this enough to invalidate the Nigerian victory? I don't think so. You have to consider that even the other teams are not completely innocent of age cheating. Plus, stature-wise, the Nigerians stand on equal footing with the other teams from the rest of the world. And this is where i think the focus should be.
True 15-16 year old boys from Nigeria are too tiny to give the other teams any competition.

Ok

Omo, see as people they tear.

Ok

Hmmm. Ok

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Happy birthday celebrations to this
lovely Nairalanders!

hmm

Nice thread!

I most say, NL are having for and most of them don't realise that what the media does make or destroy a nation. An article that is based on ridicule and derision should not have hit the FP.
OP i appreciate your for an excellent job.
Most of the people who shout that our boys are over age most definitely know more than the world standard governing body FIFA.

I'm happy the op is even female defending our team. Also semi4lyf,your in depth analysis is awesome.
Thing is,most Nigerians are so used to failure that a single success must be suspicious and dubious.

Ok