Chelsea, Arsenal To Block Youth Team Players From Attending Nigeria U17 Camp; Leeds Utd Furious Over Bullying

Published: September 23, 2019

Several Premier League clubs have resolved not to permit their youth-team players to attend future Nigeria U17 training camps over allegations of bullying and maltreatment of minors by Golden Eaglets coaches, allnigeriasoccer.com understands.

Chelsea blocked two of their players, winger Adrian Akande and goalkeeper Prince Adegoke, from joining the training camp in Abuja, while Malcolm Ebiowei was not released by Arsenal.

Manchester United and Liverpool have also heard negative reports about the Nigeria U17s training camp and will block their players from attending the camps if they are invited.

The clubs have argued that the players called up to the Golden Eaglets camp are demoralized and physiologically damaged when they return to England.

To put it another way, the teenagers are not returned by the Nigeria Football Federation 'the way they were' prior to their trip to Africa.

Meanwhile, Leeds United are investigating claims by their midfielder Yinka Adeniji that he was bullied by the Golden Eaglets coaches whilst training with the team this month in Abuja.

And the leadership of the Championship club is planning to ask the Nigerian Federation to provide an explanation if his claims prove to be correct.

Allnigeriasoccer.com contacted Golden Eaglets assistant coach Jolomi Atume, who didn't travel with the team to Turkey, to clarify allegations of bullying of foreign-based players invited to camp but he refused to comment.

Ifeanyi Emmanuel