Man City-Bound Starlet Bazunu On The Radar Of Nigeria U17s As Bournemouth GK Is Dropped From 25-Man Roster

Published: August 15, 2018

Allnigeriasoccer.com understands that Manchester City-bound glovesman Gavin Bazunu is on the radar of the Nigeria Football Federation, with a view to a call-up to the Golden Eaglets ahead of the 2019 Africa U17 Cup of Nations.

The 16-year-old has yet to concede in his first four matches for Shamrock Rovers in the League of Ireland Premier Division, a performance that earned him a move to the Citizens and named as SSE Airtricity/Soccer Writers' Association of Ireland Player of the Month for July 2018.

The Golden Eaglets coaching staff will continue monitoring Bazunu and plan to invite him to the team in future if he remains in form.

At least two foreign-based players tried their luck during the Golden Eaglets screening exercise but were unsuccessful, including a Bournemouth youth-team goalkeeper, simply called Joseph, and another youngster on the books of German club Borussia Mönchengladbach.

The Cherries starlet was brought to the Golden Eaglets camp by his father and passed the MRI test but has been axed from the 25-man roster which will be sent to CAF on Wednesday evening due to his physical shortcomings, although he has technical qualities as you would expect from an English-trained goalie.

Meanwhile, Golden Eaglets officials are awaiting approval from the Nigerian Federation for another set of players to undergo MRI examinations but this group won't be part of the upcoming 2019 African U17 Cup of Nations qualifiers that will hold in Republic of the Niger next month.

The coaches are planning to beef up the team with these players if they qualify for the U17 AFCON in Tanzania.

Ifeanyi Emmanuel

Photo Credit : swai.ie