Newly-appointed coach of the U-23 national team, Imama Amapakabo, has reaffirmed the belief that Nigeria is blessed with a vast pool of young and talented footballers.
In a chat with the press, the former handler of Enugu Rangers was unperturbed by the challenges ahead of him as the head coach of the U23 national team, which is regarded as the country’s most important national team.
” I am not bothered by the challenges ahead because I am not new to such positions. I have been involved with the national team system for some time now,” he quipped.
He was also quick to rubbish claims that the country was suffering from a dearth of quality players which was responsible for Super Eagles’ coach Gernot Rohr not looking the way of home-grown talents.
” It is wrong to assume that the local players are being neglected by the Super Eagles head coach. Based on agreement reached by the technical crew led by Gernot Rohr, I was on ground to watch the Super 8 games and most recently, the matches of Nigeria’s continental representatives. That should tell you that the local players remain in plans of the head coach,” he remarked.
Continuing, he noted that the future of Nigerian football is bright.
According to him, the abundance of Nigeria-born talented young players both home and in diaspora is a strong indication that the country remains a strong force in global football.
” We are, indeed, blessed in terms of quality young talents. The country’s squad to the last world cup in Russia had several young players who still have many years to serve the country,” he enthused.
