60 Players Begin Camping For Mini-football Africa Nations Cup Screening

60 Players Begin Camping For Mini-football Africa Nations Cup Screening

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By Amaechi Agbo

A total of 60 players are currently in camp undergoing screening ahead of July’s Mini-foot all Africa Cup of Nations, Bestcjoicesports.com.ng can report.

Nigeria is hosting the second edition of the Nation’s Cup from 8th to 17 July, this year in Ibadan, Oyo state, South West region.

The Nigeria Mini-Football Association, NMA Monday began screening of players sent by its member states’ associations.

Last week, the NMA sent a letter to all states associations to bring three (3) best players for a one week screening exercise which will start from 31st May 2021 and end 5th June 2021.

The players arrived 30th May 2021.

The players assembled at the Ilaji Sports Resorts, Ibadan, with their training kits for the exercise

According to the Coordinator, North-Centtal zone of the NMA, Mr Batako Umar Lapai said that a total of 20 players would be selected from the screening for the final training for the Africa Cup of Nations.

“The screening camp will start on Monday and 60 players are in camp already. All modalities have been put in shape for the screening.

“At the end of it, 20 players will be selected to represent Nigeria in Nations cup in July,” he said.

On whether it was not too late for the screening to commence with less than two months to a continental tournament, Mr Lapai said time was not against the NMA.

“No. We are not racing against time. The players are selected from pull of players who have played minifootball. The screening is meant to select the best 20 legs and then they will go into intense training and preparations for the tournament.

“We have a Africa Minifootball Confederation, AMC licensed coach who will take charge of them from the screening to the training proper.

“There is no cause for alarm,” he said.

A minimum of 17 African countries including defending champions Ivory Coast as well as Senegal are expected in Nigeria from July 8 to 17 to battle for the coveted trophy.

8 countries participated in the maiden edition held in Libya in 2018 with Ivory Coast emerging as champions. Senegal came 2nd while Tunisia were 3rd. Nigeria came a distance 5th in the table.

The second edition of the tournament which holds biannually was supposed to hold in 2020 but was shifted to 2021 due to ravaging Covid-19 pandemic.

The Africa Cup of Nations will hold at the Ilaji Sports Resorts and the facilities have been given pass mark after the inspection tour by the visiting Africa Mini-football Confederation officials.

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