U20 World Cup: Flying Eagles unveil final squad with notable absentees
U20 World Cup: Flying Eagles unveil final squad with notable absentees
Nigeria’s Flying Eagles’ preparations for the 2025 FIFA U-20 World Cup have been affected by the withdrawal of key players.
French side Stade Reims and German club Hoffenheim have declined to release their Nigerian players for the tournament, as it does not fall within FIFA’s official calendar, giving clubs the right to hold back players from international duty.
According to NAN, Hoffenheim duo Emmanuel Chukwu and Precious Benjamin will miss the competition in Chile after the club rejected the Nigeria Football Federation’s request for their release.
Ibrahim Hafiz, a striker with Stade Reims, is also unavailable after the French side declined to release him.
All three players are considered key prospects for the team.
Head coach Aliyu Zubairu has adjusted his plans and named a final 21-man squad without several overseas-based players.
Enyimba winger Clinton Jephta, along with Bidemi Amole and Divine Oliseh, who featured at the U-20 WAFU B qualifiers in Togo, were left out.
Team captain Daniel Bameyi headlines the squad. Over 10 players named have participated in recent training camps and friendly matches.
New inclusions include Israel Ayuma, Ebenezer Harcourt, Charles Agada, Auwal Ibrahim, Kparobo Arierhi, Tahir Maigana, and Odinaka Okoro.
Adamu Maigari, a regular fullback, was ruled out due to a knee injury.
NAN also reports that the team departed Abuja for Chile on Sunday night.
Norway-based midfielder Daniel Daga is expected to join the squad in Chile ahead of their opening match.
The Flying Eagles will aim to improve on recent performances and compete strongly for the title when the tournament kicks off later this month.
The tournament is scheduled to run from September 27 to October 20 in Chile.
NAN reports that Nigeria will be aiming for their maiden FIFA U-20 World Cup trophy, having finished as runners-up in 1989 and 2005. At the last edition in Argentina in 2023, the Flying Eagles were eliminated in the quarter-finals by the Republic of Korea.
(NAN)
