The Nigeria Premier Football League chairman, Gbenga Elegbeleye is delighted with the inclusion of five Youth League players in the Golden Eaglets.
The players are Remo Stars trio, Oreoluwa Agbenla, Muiz Oladimeji and Daniel Arierhi, as well as Rangers goalkeeper Chinedu Chike and Edward Ochigbo of Sporting Lagos.
The Golden Eaglets are in Ghana for the West African Football Union (WAFU) qualifying tournament for the Africa U-17 Nations Cup.
Elegbeleye tasked the five players to be good ambassadors of the NPFL U17 Youth League by playing very well to contribute to Nigeria’s qualification for the CAF Cadet Championship and ultimately, the FIFA U-17 Finals.
He noted that football, like any other business, must have a steady line of stock replenishment or it will lose the market.
“We have obviously met one of the cardinal objectives of initiating the Youth League for our Clubs in the NPFL, which is to assist the Football Federation and their Coaches scout for talents,” he told NPFL media.
“The Youth League is a requirement of the NFF Club Licensing Regulations and the benefits are many, including providing the clubs a steady and ready replacement of ageing players and those who move away to their clubs.
“We, in the NPFL Board feel a sense of satisfaction at the outcome of the NPFL Youth League in its very first edition and we look forward to not only seeing the young lads dominate regular club football but also make it to the U-20 and Olympic teams for Nigeria.”
WAFU Cup: Elegbeleye halls inclusion of youth league stats in Golden Eaglets squad