Ex-international and former Golden Eaglets Star, Nwankwo Kanu has described Nigeria’s absence at this year's edition of the FIFA U-17 World Cup tournament billed for India in October, as a sad occurrence for a country that has won the tournament for a record five times.
Nigeria failed to qualify for the AFCON U-17 in Gabon after they fell to Niger Republic in the qualifiers. The Golden Eaglets were the African and world champions in 2015.
Kanu said: “It is hard to take that my country, Nigeria would not be participating in the championship in India,”
African will be represented at the U-17 World Cup by Ghana, Mali, Niger and Guinea will represent Africa.
Papilo as he is fondly called expressed optimism that “...African teams can do it.”
He said: “My optimism stems from the fact that the continent has always been good in age group tournaments.
“If I’m not mistaken, Africa has won the tournament more times than any other continent in the World since the tournament started in 1985 in China.
“With (Africa) seven titles so far in the FIFA U17 championship, yes, of course, the continent can do it again, it is very possible”.
Kanu won the Cup with the Eaglets in 1995.
