Nigeria’s Future Eagles withdraw from UEFA youth tourney after Spanish Embassy denies team’s visas

The NFF said players and officials of the Future Eagles were denied visas by the Spanish Embassy to take part in the tournament.

Victor Olorunfemi • April 8, 2024

Nigeria Eagles [Credit; The Guardian Nigerian]

The Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) on Monday announced that the Under-15 national football team, known as the Future Eagles, will not participate in the upcoming UEFA U16 Development Tournament starting in Spain on Friday over visa issues.

According to a statement released by the federation on its official X, formerly Twitter account, players and officials of the team were denied visas by the Spanish Embassy to take part in the tournament.

“Players and officials of the Nigeria U15 team, Future Eagles, have been denied visas by the Spanish Embassy and will, therefore, not be travelling to take part in the UEFA U16 Development Tournament starting on Friday,” the statement said.

The UEFA U16 Development Tournament was established by the European football governing body (UEFA) in 2012 with the aim of helping aspiring footballers across the globe participate in international football.

Each tournament consists of four national teams from both UEFA nations and non-UEFA national boys’ and girls’ national teams.

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