A staggering 26 members of Nigeria's
Under-17 side failed an age test carried out
ahead of an African Cup of Nations
qualifier.



A mandatory Magnetic Resonance Imaging
(MRI) screening of the squad revealed almost
half were ineligible to play.


Only last year the Golden Eaglets, as they are
known, won the FIFA U17 World Cup in Chile
for a record fifth time.


The players who failed the tests have now left
the training camp in Abuja.


They were staying there ahead of tomorrow's
Cup of Nations U17 qualifying match against
neighbouring Niger, which will still go ahead.
Many of the expected starting eleven passed
the test.


Accusations of age cheating have blighted
Nigeria's success at international age group
tournaments in recent years.


Former Nigerian FA president Anthony Kojo
Williams told the BBC : "We use over-age
players for junior championships, I know that.


"Why not say it? It's the truth. We always
cheat. It's a fact.


"When you cheat, you deprive the young stars
that are supposed to play in these competitions
their rights."


In 2013 Nigeria were left without key players
for their Fifa Under-17 World Cup in after
failing the same tests .


Controversially, USA-based Abuchi Obinwa
was one of those to fail the test despite
having all the relevant documentation to prove
his age.


Football's world governing body Fifa introduced
MRI scans to check the ages of players at the
2009 Under-17 World Cup, which took place in
Nigeria.



MRI is used to scan the wrist plate of players to
accurately check their true age, with only
players between grade one and five of the scan
eligible to participate.


Players with more advanced bone structure are
considered to be adults.

Source: m.bbc.co.uk/newsbeat/article/36990537/nigerias-under-17-squad-wiped-out-as-half-are-older-than-17

Truly Naija

Nigeria nawa oooo

Lols, even under buhari.
Funny country.