The Nigeria Football Federation actually authorized the withdrawal of the National U16 boys (Future Eagles) from the upcoming UEFA U16 Developmental Invitational Tournament slated for 11th to 17th April 2024, in Spain, and not the Spanish Embassy that denied them visa as been rumoured.

According to the letter of authorization signed by Scribe of the Federation, Mohammed Sanusi and dated 8th April, 2024, Kayode Arewa, the Protocol of the Federation was directed to retrieved the international passports of the players and officials.

 NFF on its X handle, had reported that both players and officials of the team were denied visa and announced that they will no longer participate 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" they were quoted as saying.

Recall that the Future Eagles trained for a week at the Remo Stars’ Sports Institute in Ikenne, during which it played two matches against the Remo Stars’ U16 boys (Beyond Limits FC), winning one and losing the other.

The Future Eagles, coached by Patrick Bassey, also won one and lost one against their Moroccan counterparts on a two-match tour of that North African country. Their first game ended in a 2-3 defeat, but they buckled up to win the second game 5-3 in the city of Kenitra.