Republic Of Benin FA Lures 3 Nigerians Into U-17 Team

The Football Association of the Republic of Benin are making frantic efforts to convince three Nigerians belonging to A Square Soccer Academy that just returned from a West African playing tour to adopt their nationality and join Benin National Under-17.

The academy which has the former Nigeria Football Association (NFA) Chief Taiwo Ogunjobi as its grand patron just returned from a playing tour which took them though Benin, Togo and Ghana.

While speaking with newsmen on their arrival in Ibadan at a small reception held by the Chief Ogunjobi before heading to Ilesa, Osun State where the team’s camp situated, the Coach of the team Okiki Oladiran Stephen said Alao Kabiru, Ifoni Pepo and Adesina Temitope have been invited by Benin FA to join their national U-17 and take up the country’s nationality.

The boys according the academy’s officials were spotted by Abiodun Anosi and Adjileye Raimi, both members of Benin Football Association while playing against Dragons Feeders Team, All Stars Team and Avranku FC Benin at Port Novo Stadium Benin and have since been making frantic efforts to convince their parents to allow the boys joining Benin National Under-17.

Another two members of the team, Olayinka Johnson and Alao Monsuru were also approached by the Benin top clubside to put pen to paper for Dragons FC.

Chief Taiwo Ogunjobi while welcoming them urged the lucky ones among the boys to follow their heart saying they can still switch nationality in the future and play for our senior national teams as allowed by the FIFA rules guiding player’s eligibility.

“All these boys were picked from all participating states that featured in the Oba Aromolaran National Soccer Tourney played in Ilesa last year and assembled by A Square Sports International that organized the competition, and now they have become more experienced and matured players.

“This grassroots development is what we are preaching and we want our Football Associations in different states to embrace so that we can maintain our stronghold and dominance in the global youth football”, Chief Ogunjobi noted.