How Many Rings On That Nigerian Tree Again?
If someone were to announce that a significant number of African footballers have slightly fictitious birth certificates, nary a gasp would be heard in the room. When matters like birth certificates are handled all loosey goosey (technical term) and date of births more a guesstimate than exact science, it’s easy to see how some would want to take advantage of this to make some money, win a few more trophies. But just how many might be worth a slight gasp: 15 of 38 players have been booted from the Nigerian U-17 football team for age cheating before the FIFA U17 World Cup.
It gets particularly bad in that Nigeria is hosting the tournament as defending champions, meaning expectations were sky-high. Worse yet, their group includes such giants as Germany and Argentina. Bad juju all around.
This all came about through MRI age determination testing conducted recently, and the total of 15 is actually a bit less than speculated. It was originally thought Nigeria would be showing up at the tourney with precisely 7 players in town, but at least now they can field a full team.
Kabiru Borgo, Abiodun Akanda, Ariyo Olubukola, Habeeb Bello, Deji Joel, Yakubu Azeez, Ogungbe Ganiyu, Orji Kalu, Justice Chinedu, Chinedu Udegha, Amadi Moses, Solomon Enudi, Dubem Awaziem, Esse Joseph Junior and Olaitan Gambari
The only next course of action is to release the actual determined ages of these players so we can chuckle when it’s revealed a bunch of 30 year olds were trying to pass off as 16. It’ll be like 90210 all over again.
There’s another worry about this finding which will probably be looked at once the furor of the upcoming tournament dissipates: the Nigerian kiddie teams have been good in recent history. Really damn good. In fact they’ve won this particular tournament three times since 1985, a feat only equaled by those Brazilian cats, who tend to be half-decent at the football thing. Chances are some of their recent successes will be up for review (though what can be done about it is a mystery).
But the good news is the FIFA U-17 World Cup isn’t until late October, so Nigerian authorities will have ample time to find players in their mid-20’s who will be able to pass the tests with flying colors.
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Comments
By OhYes | August 26th, 2009 at 12:06 pm 
Damn Nigerian scams!
By laurie | August 26th, 2009 at 12:07 pm It’ll be like 90210 all over again.
Giggle.
By Mex | August 26th, 2009 at 5:40 pm Mexico got banished from Italia 90 for playing overage players. I wonder if the same will happen….
Posted from 
Mexico
By Rami | August 26th, 2009 at 6:46 pm It’s about time! Sick of losing to them (and others) in African youth tourneys when its damn clear half the team is overage.
Posted from 
United States
By steve | September 3rd, 2009 at 5:22 am damn you f–king writer, your piece is shit!!.Now tell me who isnt shiting in this business, including your holier- than -thou -western propagandist.What do you expect from a country with no sound data base in terms of proper documentation of its age group.I am happy that FIFA have instructed that all countries participating in the forth coming U17 will carry our MRI test , yes nigeria have deem it fit to expose its team but will the west and the south americans do the same? no, rather they will handle it quetly like crooks that they are , without letting the press know the outcome!.Let every team be exposed and you will be supprised at the age of the teams from europe and south america .It is quite bad publicity for nigeria due to it sincerity but at the end it will help us in rebuilding our national teams.
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