Numa plays down Eaglets transition
FORMER Nigeria junior international, Binebi Numa believes it is virtually impossible for the current set of Golden Eaglets to progress as a group to the senior national team.
The Eaglets have been widely praised for their breathtaking performances that saw them conquer the world, and have been upgraded to the under- 20 level as part of a gradual transition that is aimed at seeing the team evolve to the Super Eagles in future.
While Numa recognised their individual talent and excellent team spirit, he insisted most of them would drop out of reckoning as they ascend the age- grade category, and that new players would also emerge.
He predicted that not more than two or three of them would be in contention for places in Nigeria’s 2018 World Cup squad.
“The Eaglets deserve all the accolades that have been coming their way for the way they dominated the 2013 Fifa Under- 17 World Cup,” Numa told supersport. com.
“It is only normal after such a brilliant performance that the entire team and the coaches should be promoted to the under- 20s.
“However, as regards the dream transition to the Super Eagles, there is no way a majority of them would make it.
“They would face different challenges as their careers evolve. Some may drop out of the game; others may lose form, while some may turn out to be mere average players.
“Of course there would be those who would turn out to be superstars, and it is mostly the super- talented that would make it to the Super Eagles.
“There would also be talent outside this group that would emerge and could be considered ahead of them.
“I see only about two or three of them ( Eaglets 2013) being serious contenders for the 2018 World Cup.”