Nigeria's hopes of participating in the prestigious UEFA U16 Development Tournament have been dashed as the Spanish Embassy denied visas to the Future Eagles U15 players. The Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) announced this setback on Monday via its official platform, citing the sudden refusal without providing any reasons.
The NFF expressed disappointment, revealing that the team, scheduled to travel on Tuesday, will now be unable to compete in the tournament. The invitation for Nigeria's participation was a recognition of the country's remarkable track record in youth football, having won multiple world titles at U17 level and reaching the FIFA World Cup final twice at U20 level.
Before the cancellation, the Future Eagles U15 team had undergone rigorous training at the Remo Stars' Sports Institute in Ikenne, including friendly matches to prepare for the tournament. The delegation, comprising 20 players, was set to be led by a member of the NFF Technical and Development Committee, Zannah Mohammed Malah.
This denial of visas deals a significant blow to Nigeria's aspirations in youth football and highlights the challenges faced in international sports engagements.
