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The Nigeria Football Federation as from January 2024 will standardize all the football academies in the country
NFF President, Alhaji Ibrahim Gusau disclosed this on Thursday when declaring open the FIFA Talent Development Scheme in Abuja.
According to him, any existing football academy that could not meet the guidelines will be made to stop operation from January 2024.
The world football governing body, FIFA also wants each football federation to have at least one academy. It is the duty of each federation to establish the academy and we will surely do our own by 2024.
“Henceforth our national team will emerge from the academy from U15 to 17 till they reach Super Eagles.
“It’s our projection that in eight years our academy will be able to produce the bulk of players that will play for Nigeria.
“The NFF will release a guideline to standardize all academy in the country by January 2024. Any academy that did not meet the requirement will be blacklisted and their license withdraw” Gusau stated
Gusau also vowed that it will not be business as usual in the Golden Eaglets .
The U17 screening will now be conducted in Abuja because FIFA has declared that the U17 will be yearly from 2025 so will need to get ourselves ready and put in place all the necessary machinery because competition will now be tougher”
NFF General Secretary, Dr. Mohammed Sanusi charges participant on the need to develop grassroot football and take it to enviable height that will be worthy of emulation to the rest of the world.
He stressed on the importance of developing youth competitions from state to zone and national level.
FIFA High Performance specialist Abdul Faisal Chibsah and FIFA Talent Development Scheme strategist Amit Desai moderated the well attended event including legendary chief Segun Odegbami.
