Golden Eaglets: Coach Manu Garba says U-17 players will undergo MRI test

After accusations of overage cheats in 2015, Manu Garba insists the Golden Eaglets will be properly screened.

Golden Eaglets coach Manu Garba has stated that the current players in camp will undergo a mandatory Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) test.

The Golden Eaglets are currently preparing for the upcoming WAFU B U-17 tournament which serves as a qualifier for the 2019 U-17 African Cup of Nations.

Garba revealed that there are over 40 players participating in training for the qualification tournament all of which will go through the MRI test is a screening exercise before selecting the team as they aim to emulate the Flying Eagles who are through to the U-20 AFCON.

The MRI test is a tool implemented to determine players who are above the required age limit for age-grade competitions.

The U-17 team has suffered accusations of age cheats in previous editions, the most recent is during the qualification series for the 2015 U-17 AFCON edition.

Just three days before their important qualification match against the Niger Republic, most of the starting line up had to be disbanded for failing the test which cost the team as they could not defend their title and the FIFA U-17 World Cup ticket.

Manu Garba and his coaching crew have taken steps to ensure that a repeat of the previous incident does not occur this time.

Over 60 players in camp will be reduced to 40 from which the screening exercise will eliminate those unsuitable.

The Golden Eaglets are billed to begin their qualification process in September and are in the same group with Cote’d Ivoire, Benin Republic, and Burkina Faso.