Erstwhile Super Eagles’ midfielder, Garba Lawal has categorically stated that the budding Golden Eaglets need encouragement rather than criticism ahead of their qualifiers for African Under-17 Youth Championship to be hosted by Morocco in 2013.

Lawal, Team’s Coordinator when the Golden Eaglets were runners up at the 2009FIFA World Cup hosted by Nigeria but won by Switzerland, is miffed about the incessant discourse bothering on allegation of over aged players which according to him, could affect the overall psyche of the team.

.”We need to commend the excellent manner they have selected the players and I think

it’s only the mischief makers that have not seen anything good in what they are doing.

“I think this is the team all Nigerians need to rally behind and offer constructive criticism if need be rather than destroy the good job being done by the coaching crew,” added Lawal.

Nigeria failed to qualify for the last two editions of the African Under-17 Championship hosted by Algeria and Rwanda in 2009 and 2011 respectively.

But the team has been undergoing a rebuilding process since February when a screening exercise began, some 40 players were later camped for one month in Calabar in May and are to reconvene soon for the First Round game against Niger  Republic in September.

“The Golden Eaglets should serve as the bedrock of other levels of the nationals teams consequently we need to support the genuine efforts of the NFF at ensuring that the right players are picked for this category,” who is a member of the NTT technical committee.

The Nigerian Under-17 team have been drawn against neighbouring Niger in one of the First Round matches towards the 10th African U-17 Championship with their First Leg match scheduled for Niamey during the weekend of September 7-9 and the reverse fixture at home on the weekend of September 21-23.