Mustapha Babadidi

Babadidi gets Nigeria call

Mustapha Babadidi called up to the senior Nigeria squad by Stephen Keshi

Posted: 30 March 2012 Time: 01:10 pm

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Nigeria Premier League top scorer Mustapha Babadidi has been called up to the senior Nigeria squad by Stephen Keshi.  

The Gombe United striker was at the centre of a media storm when he was named in the Under-17 squad by coach Bala Manu.   Babadidi now joins 25 other domestic league players, led by captain Chigozie Agbim for next month’s international friendly match with African Cup of Nations record-winners, Egypt, in Abu Dhabi.   There are three goalkeepers, eight defenders and 15 midfielders and forwards.   Players and officials are expected at the Bolton White Apartments, Zone 7, Abuja on Monday, 2nd April before 1pm, with their international passports.   Other prominent names are defenders Godfrey Oboabona and Azubuike Egwueke, who played the entire duration of last month’s 2013 African Cup of Nations qualifier against Rwanda in Kigali; midfielder Reuben Gabriel who came in as substitute and playmaker Ejike Uzoenyi, who dazzled endlessly against Rwanda and was voted Most Valuable Player.   THE FULL LIST:   Goalkeepers: Chigozie Agbim (Warri Wolves), Okemute Odah (Sharks FC), Daniel Akpeyi (Heartland FC)   Defenders: Juwon Oshaniwa (Sharks FC), Godfrey Oboabona (Sunshine Stars), Azubuike Egwueke (Warri Wolves), Papa Idris (Kano Pillars), Ahmed Adesope (3SC), Shehu Maija’ma (Wikki Tourists), Uzochukwu Ogonna (Enugu Rangers), Nura Mohammed (Enyimba FC)   Midfielders/Forwards: Obinna Nwachukwu (Heartland FC), Bartholomew Ibenegbu (Heartland FC), Izu Azuka (Sunshine Stars), Uche Kalu (Enyimba FC), Uche Ossai (Warri Wolves), Reuben Gabriel (Kano Pillars), Ejike Uzoenyi (Enugu Rangers), Sunday Mba (Warri Wolves), Henry Uche (Enyimba FC), Barnabas Imenger Jnr (Kwara United), Mustapha Babadidi (Gombe United), Jabason Solomon (Akwa United), Hassan Hussein (Dolphins FC), Gbolahan Salami (Enyimba FC), Lawal Mohammed (Ranch Bees) 

Article by: Colin Udoh

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Anonymous
posted: 01:18 pm
Hmm, to think this guy was called up for under-17. NFF, you never learn.
Davkoz
posted: 02:09 pm
HOW CAN SOMEONE NAME THIS KIND OF PLAYER FOR UNDER 17. WHY DO YOU PEOPLE ALWAYS LIKE TO PUT THE NIGERIAN NAME IN THE MUD. EVEN WITH A BIRTH CERTIFICATE OR PASSPORT FORTIFIED, EYE CAN TELL YOU BETWEEN WHICH AGE YOU ARE RANGED.

PLS LET US LEARN AND NOT BE IN BETWEEN CONTROVERCY ALWAYS.
Davkoz
posted: 02:10 pm
HOW CAN SOMEONE NAME THIS KIND OF PLAYER FOR UNDER 17. WHY DO YOU PEOPLE ALWAYS LIKE TO PUT THE NIGERIAN NAME IN THE MUD. EVEN WITH A BIRTH CERTIFICATE OR PASSPORT FORTIFIED, EYE CAN TELL YOU BETWEEN WHICH AGE YOU ARE RANGED.

PLS LET US LEARN AND NOT BE IN BETWEEN CONTROVERCY ALWAYS.
Anonymous
posted: 03:04 pm
Football officials in nigeria will never stop to show hw backward n stupid they are.Who n I mean who in this modern age cares about winning the junior world anymore but only myoppic nff and coward local coaches in nigeria.To HELL with you guys winning any of the junior world cups wt over age footballers who easily fizzle out after the tournament.Look at this so called under- 17.I am so ashamed,we never gonna learn.
olutayo (USA)
posted: 03:31 pm
Hi everyone!

What happened to Jude Aneke of ?Warri Wolves.He was one time top NPL scorer,debuted against Zambia.I think there should be a little bit of continuity here.May be the guy is not living up to expectation or it was just an omission.Keshi,pls,take note.

God bless Nigeria,SE
Game147
posted: 04:54 pm
'Excelente jugada por keshi'.
Amata Plus
posted: 04:59 pm
If there is one home based star that should be on this list and isn't it is Ofoedu Chikeluba of Rangers. Why he is left out one cannot fathom. That guy is simply a star waiting to announce himself to the entire world. He is a sure star that will shine. Keshi and co should cap this young man before other countries see him in the nearest future and start having ideas! It is not too late to call him up to join this team. Keshi, give him a call, he deserves to be in the team!
Anonymous
posted: 07:03 pm
Now we know that, the National team start the journey of winning trophies. And this is the right time we beggin 2 pray 4 them.
Anonymous
posted: 07:44 pm
That the U17 coach invited an obviously over aged player is an indication that he is incompetent and visionless. The question now is should we allow him to waste tax payers money and come back with failure or should we savage the situation by sacking the wayoman
matunbe
posted: 08:28 pm
So when will Nigeria stop using over age players this guy is even older the under 20 players .
Game147
posted: 09:30 pm
What Nigeria needs is this brand of soccer :

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CmN-M90Svs8&feature=related
Anonymous
posted: 10:36 pm
charls u ar a fool for ur unvontructive commet
Anonymous
posted: 11:45 pm
@koffi I won't join issues with a sonofabitching novice like you
Anonymous
posted: 11:47 pm
I think its high time this under 17 coach was shown the door.Its either he is very lazy to scout the talent or he is futureless and dosnt have the eye to scout future Nigeria.He is a disgrace,he just wants good results to please his masters so as to keep his job.He dosnt know the main purpose of our junior teams.
Anonymous
posted: 03:05 am
Amata plus you are so right on the money. I have not seen him play, but I HAVE READ THAT CHIKELUBA'S COMBINATION WITH UZOENYI is the main reason Rangers is among the top teams in the NPL. Please Keshi call this young player to your team.

Keshi please use this summer's games to give a lot of the fringe players the opportunity to play. I am talking of Moses, Oduamadi, Igiebor, Echiejile, Haruna, Emenike, Fengor, Aluko and Ideye. We have to start planning for the future
Anonymous
posted: 03:11 am
Why would you blame the U17 Coach, Babadidi claimed to be 16. If these players stop claiming outrageous ages, in the hope of going to Europe, we can have true school boys in our under 17 team
Philosopher`
posted: 08:23 am
I can see, English is indeed giving some people taugh time to read; ''Nigeria Premier League top
scorer Mustapha Babadidi
has been called up to the
SENIOR NIGERIA SQUAD by
Stephen Keshi.
'' is this stament too difficult to comprehend?
Speaker
posted: 04:37 pm
Babadidi now joins 25 other domestic league players, led by captain Chigozie Agbim for next month’s international friendly match with African Cup of Nations record-winners, Egypt, in Abu Dhabi.


Guys.......
The copied excerpt should be our priority for discuss. Looks like Keshi has a hammer to dig out as much home based that can fill in the blanks in the disjointed eagle squad
red skin
posted: 05:51 pm
If he claimed to be 16 and can defend it without any documented contradictions, USE HIM. That's what most countries are doing anyway and for crying out loud, we are not his parents.

You know that most Northern youths get so tall, black and sometimes ugly and looks mean and older than their real age.

Who and who did use his real age in the past anyway? If you use a boy of even 18yrs to play U17 and then another coach decides to go even further to use a man of 25, they are both inelegible and there is nothing like 'slightly' overaged.

Football is a gamble and those that are Saints, blameless and Holy has little of nothing to do with the 'game.'
red skin
posted: 06:07 pm
When I was truely 16 and was about to leave college, I was bigger,close to 183cm in height and robust than this guy in the caption.

Don't forget players like Yekini, Amokachie, Yakubu,Anichebe and co
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