Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) has reaffirmed its support for the Aspire Football Dreams (AFD) towards the development of the game of football in the country.
Assistant Director, Media and Communications, Demola Olajire, made this known to our correspondent in Lagos during the just concluded ninth edition of the AFD in Lagos.
He said the NFF is happy with the project of the AFD and will continue to identify and support the project for the growth and development of the game in the country.
He said: “There is no doubt that the AFD is out to help development our football as it has been seen in their programmes in the past eight years. We in the NFF will continue to be part of this lofty idea and we will continue to identify with the project.
“I want to say that at least three players from the Top 50 discovered this year would be given a chance to showcase their talents in the national Under-17 team”.
Earlier, AFD Director (Nigeria), Col. Sam Ahmedu (rtd), said the project which is now a global phenomenon was instituted by the Aspire Academy, Doha, Qatar in 2007 to aid the development of football amongst youths of some developing countries and Nigeria has been one of the beneficiaries till date.
Other countries according to him that have been part of the project include but not limited to Senegal, Ghana, Cote d’Ivoire, Mali, Morocco, South Africa, Kenya, Tanzania, Zambia, Rwanda, Cameroon, Guatemala, Paraguay, Vietnam and Thailand.
He said: “So far, over 30 youngsters from Nigeria have benefited from this project since its inception and some have gone to play for the Golden Eaglets and Flying Eagles at various times.
“They include John Felagha, who was Nigeria goalkeeper at the U-17 and U-20 World Cups in 2009 and 2011 respectively. Samson Jegede helped to qualify Nigeria for the U-17 World Cup in 2013 which Nigeria eventually won.
“Presently, Funsho Bamigboye, an Aspire Academy player discovered through this project is with the Nigerian U-17 team for the World Cup in Chile.
“Beside this, the AFD has facilitated a working relationship the NFF. Nigeria teams have camped at the Aspire Academy prior to international championships. Notably, we remember the U-17 and U-20 teams under Samson Siasia in 2009 and 2011.
“In 2013, our world champions, Golden Eaglets were camped in the Academy for 33 days preparatory to the African Championship in Morocco and World Cup in the UAE.
“Other areas of cooperation include the medical field as Nigerian players continue to receive treatment at Aspetar, a FIFA Medical centre of Excellence.