'Many ex-internationals are supporting him' - Udeze hails Golden Eaglets coach Ugbade pre-Zambia

Ahead of Nigeria's first match of the CAF U-17 Africa Cup of Nations against Zambia, former Super Eagles defender Ifeanyi Udeze has heaped praises on the coach of Nigeria's U-17 national team, Nduka Ugbade for the thorough and professional way the team of 26 young players were picked for the Africa U-17 Africa Cup of Nations in Algeria. 

Ugbade and his coaching crew deservedly got the thumbs up from the Confederation of African Football (CAF) as all the players named on the final squad made the cut for the tournament after the MRI test conducted by the continent's football controlling body. 

One-time Premier League star Udeze bared his thoughts on Brila FM Lagos on the composition of the cadet team. 

"We must give Nduka credit for a good job that he has done with this (Golden Eaglets) team. 

"For the first time, we have seen real young players, there's an SS1 student in the team. 

"Speaking from experience, there are European players that are real U-16 players who have been disqualified from tournaments because of their bones, their bones are very thick as seen from their MRI tests. 

"It's a good one. Ugbade is a good coach and many ex-internationals are supporting him. 

The former Nigerian international also spared a thought for the country's football federation who have backed the team to pick one of Africa's four slots to the 2023 FIFA U-17 World Cup. 

"It's not easy for the NFF too. There's no excuse because they have backed the national teams, anything they want they got," Udeze posited. 

The onetime West Brom left-back was part of Nigeria's team to the 2007 Meridian Cup. 

Izuchukwu Michael

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