The inclusion of Abba Bichi in the 21 man list of Nigeria for the ongoing U-17 World Cup in Brazil triggered discussions about how his father’s position in the Nigerian government facilitated his inclusion in the team. His father Yusuf Bichi, is the head of the Department of Security Service (DSS) in Nigeria.
Many believe the fact that his father is a highly placed security chief in Nigeria played a role in the inclusion of Bichi in the team and not his ability on the pitch of play.
Mohammed Yusuf Suleiman writes on his inclusion in the team and the possible reasons why he was included beyond the fact that his father is a very influential figure in the Nigeria security system.
How the coaches spotted him – Bichi for the best part of the last two years was playing his football for an Academy in China, where he is viewed as one of the key players of the team as seen in their recent tour of Spain, where he was said to have caught the attention of Laliga side Espanyol. His invitation to the Nigeria U17 team came after he impressed a top official of the Nigeria Football Federation ( NFF) during a five-a-side tournament in Abuja. He was then recommended to the coaches.
Where he plays on the pitch and his qualities – He is a winger who can operate from either flank, he can also play behind the main striker in a 4-4-2 formation. One of his teammates in the Nigeria U-17 camp revealed that he is called Beckham due to his similar style of play with the former England national team captain David Beckham. In the words of coach of the team Manu Garba, he crosses the ball better than almost all the wingers in his team and he also can be deadly from dead ball situations. Particularly from freekicks around the edge of the box.
” The first day he trained with us he scored a freekick that had many on their feet. He repeated it again during one of our shooting drills. We also noticed that he can cross the ball better in open play more than any other player in the team”, Manu Garba revealed.
Aside that he works really hard for the team, something that the coaches admire a lot because it fits into the system they love to play without the ball. Although his teammates believe he sometimes works too hard which usually affect his game as he most times struggle to finish games the way he starts them due to fatigue.
Father’s influence behind his selection – That cannot be ruled out totally judging by the fact that he is almost at same level with some players dropped and even below some who were axed from the team for the tournament. What’s not right to say is to insinuate that his father’s influence is the only reason why he was picked because many players would have made the team on that ground.
For instance Abdullahi Dikko nephew of the vice president of the Nigeria Football Federation ( NFF) Shehu Dikko was dropped from the team same as Daniel Dalung who happens to be the nephew of the immediate past minister for Youth and Sports.
Robert Oseh, the nephew of the Nigeria minister (state) for Labour and Productivity Festus Keyamo who also doubles as the lawyer of the NFF failed to make the final cut for the tournament with the Oldham Athletics teen midfielder placed on standby.
Idris Eletu-Odibo, the son of a highly influential King in Lagos missed out on the final 21 man list for the tournament despite making the list of players for their final training camp in Brazil before the naming of the squad for the tournament.
The omission of the above mentioned players could mean that Bichi probably has something many don’t know about yet which the coaches believe will come handy as the tournament progresses. Time will tell.