The Nigeria Premier Football League has confirmed the kick-off of the NPFL U-17 two-week development camp in Abuja, www.aclsports.com reports.
According to the statement from the league body, the 30 players invited have all arrived at the team’s camp at the Goodluck Jonathan Athletes Performance Hostel inside the FIFA Goal Project of the MKO Abiola National Stadium in Abuja for the development sessions.
The players called up were drawn from the five zonal qualifiers which were held in February at Lafia, Kaduna, Ado Ekiti, Enugu, and Port Harcourt as well as from the finals that were held from February 25 to March 3 in Benin.
The group is made up of seven players from the NPFL Champions, Rangers International Youth Team, six from the NPFL Runners-up and Remo Stars Youth Team, and five from winners of the maiden NPFL U17 Youth League, Rivers United. The rest of the invited players are four from Plateau United and Katsina United, two from Lobi Stars, and one each from Abia Warriors and Sunshine Stars.
Meanwhile, the Chairman of the Nigeria Premier Football League board, Gbenga Elegbeleye, who was in a recent meeting with the Spanish Ambassador to Nigeria, His Excellency Juan Ignacio Sell, said the league board is looking for Spanish clubs for the proposed tour of Spain by NPFL U-17 selected stars.
“It is on record that Spain has the best youth development programme in Europe. The likes of Messi, Xavi, Iniesta, and co. grew through Spanish football academies. Another shining example is the current world sensation, Lamine Yamal. Also, with the recent success of their national team in the 2024 European Championship, the Spaniards are head and shoulders ahead, not forgetting Real Madrid’s triumph in the UEFA Champions League last season. Those go a long way in encapsulating our passion and NPFL’s interest in the proposed partnership,” Elegbeleye said via Hope Newspaper.
“This week, I hope to be in Madrid for discussions on how to integrate outstanding youths from Nigeria’s top league. Thereafter, I will be in Seville—one of the best places in Europe for youth programmes—for the same purpose.
“The overall plan is to expand the opportunities of these NPFL players to better training under different technical officials and give them the choice of experiencing global standards as European leagues are interested in young talents,” the NPFL chief concluded.
Among the players in camp include Oscar Ozornwanfor and Seiyefa Jackson of Rivers United – who made their top-flight debuts in the just concluded NPFL season, Chimaobi Igwilo of Rangers as well as Precious Olaniyan, Aigbe Bolaji and Daniel Arierhi of Remo Stars. The camp will close on August 3.
