A two-week development camp for the Nigeria Premier Football League (NPFL) Youth League All-Stars commenced in Abuja on July 21, 2024. The camp, which aims to nurture and develop the skills of young football talents, has brought together 30 exceptional players from various NPFL clubs.
Players' Selection and Camp Details
The players, who arrived at the camp on Sunday, are currently residing at the Goodluck Jonathan Athletes Performance Hostel within the FIFA Goal Project of the MKO Abiola National Stadium in Abuja. The selection process was rigorous, with players chosen from the five zonal qualifiers held in February across various locations, including Lafia, Kaduna, Ado Ekiti, Enugu, and Port Harcourt. Additionally, players who participated in the finals held from February 25 to March 3 in Benin were also considered.
Breakdown of Players by Club
The 30 players represent various NPFL clubs, with the following breakdown:
- Rangers International Youth Team (7 players)
- Remo Stars Youth Team (6 players)
- Rivers United (5 players)
- Plateau United (4 players)
- Katsina United (4 players)
- Lobi Stars (2 players)
- Abia Warriors (1 player)
- Sunshine Stars (1 player)
Notable Players and Future Prospects
Some outstanding players in the camp have already made a name for themselves. Oscar Ozornwanfor and Seiyefa Jackson of Rivers United, Chimaobi Igwilo of Rangers, and Aigbe Bolaji of Remo Stars are among the notable talents. Impressively, some of these players have been promoted to their respective clubs' senior teams, while others have earned a spot in the National U-17 team that narrowly missed qualification for the AFCON U-17 Championship.
Camp Objectives and Future Plans
The camp, which will run until August 3, aims to provide an intensive training program for the young players. Furthermore, there are plans to take the players to Spain for additional training, which will undoubtedly expose them to international standards and further enhance their skills.
This initiative by the NPFL is a commendable step towards developing young football talents in Nigeria, and it will be exciting to see the impact of this camp on the future of Nigerian football.
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