FIFA Talent Development Coordinator Slams U-17 Coach Over Snub of TDS Players

By Arinzechi Chukwunonso

National Coordinator and Technical Director of the FIFA Talent Development Scheme (TDS) in Nigeria, Nasiru Jibril, has expressed deep disappointment over the continued neglect of players developed under the FIFA–Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) partnership program by the country’s Under-17 coaching crew.

Speaking in Abuja, Jibril criticized the failure of the Golden Eaglets’ head coach, Manu Garba, to include any player from the TDS in his recent team selection — despite years of structured grooming and investment in young talents.

“It is really shocking to me that the head coach of the U-17 says he hasn’t seen a single player from the TDS worthy of making the team,” Jibril lamented. “For almost two years, we’ve run this program — holding camps, playing friendlies home and abroad, even traveling to Morocco to face their U-17 side — yet none of our boys was considered good enough. It’s hard to justify.”

The FIFA TDS, a joint project between FIFA and the NFF, was launched to identify, develop, and nurture young footballers into elite prospects for Nigeria’s national teams. The program has conducted several national camps, with players exposed to international test matches, including against Morocco’s youth teams.

Despite this, Jibril revealed that not one player from the TDS setup was invited to join the U-17 squad that failed to qualify for the AFCON U-17 Championship and the FIFA U-17 World Cup — for the second time in a row.

“We’ve had these boys in structured development. Ninety percent of them will pass MRI age tests, they’ve beaten older academy teams here in Nigeria, and have international experience,” he said. “Yet the coach says none are good enough for the qualifiers. That’s a huge discouragement for the entire development system.”

Jibril went further to question the purpose of continuing the FIFA-funded youth project if the national team coaches refuse to integrate its products.

“Honestly, there’s no point continuing with the TDS if these boys will never get a chance. Maybe the federation should just use FIFA’s funds directly for the U-17 team,” he suggested. “We’ve created a pathway where players should move from U-15 to U-16 to U-17, but there’s no continuity.”

Despite the frustration, Jibril acknowledged that the TDS has still made progress, as several graduates have moved on to play in the Nigeria Premier Football League (NPFL) and abroad. However, he warned that the program risks losing its purpose if the national team structure fails to embrace it.