Jiggaman2:


African have young face compared to westerners.

safarigirl:
^^^^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

semid4lyfe:
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.

TheGoodJoe:


Then one of the proof of the so called haters is their physical appearance. There is nothing like young face. We are in Nigeria, most Nigerians, at 25-28, can not look like that. Compare them to Nigerians and not Europeans.

Those are real U20 players. So the haters can scream as much as they like, we will continue going places.

2sex:
My dear, I consider those who you address in your post as FOOLS, BIG FOOLS, that's what they are. They have no idea how shamefully they disgrace themselves just to appear "truthful"

Okobaba1:
Abegii, make we hear word! If u are close to this players u will know dat dey are Age cheats. In dis article, I didn't see d writer showing us evidence abt the true age of som of dis players. Nobody shd yap abt MRI.

In d other article "Papa eaglets and our cheating culture," several references were made to age cheats like Siasia and co.

All dis emotional hogwash is pure pretence. We are fond of being too sentimental in dis country. Let's kill sentiments an watch dis country develop fast!!

flyca:
OP, There is no justification for cheating. Culture shock o, poverty mentality o, etc hold no water. Everyone of us face different challenges daily! Should we all use it as an excuse to cheat?! Does it justify cheating?!

When we catch armed robbers, we all usually jump at their justice, screaming "lock the behind bars, forever". However, get to interview those guys and they will tell you pitiful tales. Most of them bread winners even from craddle. But no, we don't give in to their tales!

If any Nigerian citizens is called out for cheating on age, exam etc, why should we give excuses on their behalf? Oh, because he is representing the country, because he is a politician, no because he is an orphan, no he is our own -son of the soil mentality. Those excuses are baseless. A cheat is a cheat! And because other people or other countries are doing it, doesn't make it right.

Except you are saying that the accusations are false, then I can reason with you. Tell us that the boys are their right ages. Tell us that the initial post was malicious lies created to dent out National image, tell us that they passed through age-scanning tests, then I can listen. Otherwise, you don't have to attack the messenger and leave the message! That is dishonesty too.

However, what I will not do is to come openly in such a platform and castigate our own.

You may not agree with me but that's the truth.

Ranchhoddas:
Foolish OP. That other nations are doing it doesn't make it right. The Papa Eaglets thread was one of the most refreshing threads I've seen on FP in a while.People like you fail to look at the big picture and that is why you can spew this emotional garbage and be happy that you have done something.Imagine a world cup that Nigeria is almost always winning.It's people like you that are responsible for all the problems in this country because you fail to realise that your desire to fraudulently get quick victory today will have consequences tomorrow.Personally I suggest that these players be subjected to random polygraph tests before, during and after the competition.At least it will take a while before those 'kids' learn how to beat the polygraph.

michlan:


So are you saying there's shame in being truthful? I wonder when we will understand integrity does not suit you when a particular situation suits you

phrezzz:
OP. Not only victor moses and welbeck make it in the 2009 u17wc. Neymar, coutinho, oscar were all in lagos for the tournament and got good clubs too. while i agree with ur post, i started Taking fifa grade competitions seriously with the introduction of MRI in 2013. today europe clubs are now more than confident to buy players from Nigeria because the mri has an accuracy of 99%

TheGoodJoe:



Height of ignorance. We are talking about Post MRI, that is from 2013, there must be MRI scan of wrist of all players to determine they are within FIFA's U17 criteria. You are talking Phillip Osondu of 1987.

coollabman:



wtf are you talking about? even with the MRI scan you're not still satisfied! you still want polygraph test? na wa for you o! those kids won fair and square, there was no cheating.

Jiggaman2:



Africans are known age cheaters, Nigerians and Ghanaians does it the best. We need to tell ourself the truth and fix it. Most Africans in America look younger than their American counterpart of the same age.

flyca:
OP, There is no justification for cheating. Culture shock o, poverty mentality o, etc hold no water. Everyone of us face different challenges daily! Should we all use it as an excuse to cheat?! Does it justify cheating?!

When we catch armed robbers, we all usually jump at their justice, screaming "lock the behind bars, forever". However, get to interview those guys and they will tell you pitiful tales. Most of them bread winners even from craddle. But no, we don't give in to their tales!

If any Nigerian citizens is called out for cheating on age, exam etc, why should we give excuses on their behalf? Oh, because he is representing the country, because he is a politician, no because he is an orphan, no he is our own -son of the soil mentality. Those excuses are baseless. A cheat is a cheat! And because other people or other countries are doing it, doesn't make it right.

Except you are saying that the accusations are false, then I can reason with you. Tell us that the boys are their right ages. Tell us that the initial post was malicious lies created to dent out National image, tell us that they passed through age-scanning tests, then I can listen. Otherwise, you don't have to attack the messenger and leave the message! That is dishonesty too.

However, what I will not do is to come openly in such a platform and castigate our own.

You may not agree with me but that's the truth.

Bollinger:
You'all can fool yourselves with patriotism all you like. The fact is we have been fielding over aged players in youth football. If you ever played the game, you'll know that there is no way you can have 11 players at that age playing at the level they are. One or two maybe, but not eleven. Look at your 16 year old brother and compare with these guys and it'll tell you everything you need to know. Worse is some of them will even claim 14. 14 for God's sake. Haba. No wonder when philip Osondu went pro, his club was expecting him to start growing taller as is expected of a 16 year old but my bro's was growing sideways. This was the best player in 1987 but what they did not know was that he was playing at his prime. They spent millions on him and got nothing in return. Nigerians, change your mentality.

MathsChic:
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.

Bollinger:


Post, pre or whatever does not change the fact that we cheat at age grade level competitions. I say again, go to neighborhood matches, age level competitions and ask how old these guys are and maybe your eyes will open. The only reason we get away with it is because of the natural physical attributes of the players of the countries we play against. They are naturally which makes it easy for us to hide amongst the crowd.

An0nimus:


Even if the boys do a polygraph test and we still win the U17 cup. They'll say a babalawo gave us jazz that we used to beat the polygraph

Bollinger:


Post, pre or whatever does not change the fact that we cheat at age grade level competitions. I say again, go to neighborhood matches, age level competitions and ask how old these guys are and maybe your eyes will open. The only reason we get away with it is because of the natural physical attributes of the players of the countries we play against. They are naturally which makes it easy for us to hide amongst the crowd.

jonathanOz:

Anuofia! Stop giving examples from the past. Apart from European countries and the US, it's very obvious that other countries cheated also in the past. Presently, the MRI scan is the standard for age verification. Get that into your thick skull

coollabman:



wtf are you talking about? even with the MRI scan you're not still satisfied! you still want polygraph test? na wa for you o! those kids won fair and square, there was no cheating.

An0nimus:


What is your recommendation to FIFA to stop age grade cheating across board. Now that you're indirectly saying the MRI scan is a failure.

adioolayi:
The truth is no saint of Age cheat in football....South Americans and Europeans are even more into it compared to Africans.