By Maryjane Austine
Flying Eagles Hit by Player Withdrawals Ahead of U-20 World Cup
Key overseas players were denied release by their clubs for the 2025 FIFA U-20 World Cup in Chile, which makes the preparations for Nigeria’s Flying Eagles suffers setbacks.
French side Stade Reims and Germany’s Hoffenheim turned down requests from the Nigeria Football Federation, citing the fact that the competition is not on FIFA’s official calendar.
This decision ruled out Emmanuel Chukwu and Precious Benjamin of Hoffenheim, as well as Reims striker Ibrahim Hafiz.
Head coach Aliyu Zubairu has since finalised a 21-man squad without several foreign-based players. Notable absentees include Enyimba’s Clinton Jephta, Bidemi Amole, and Divine Oliseh, who featured in the WAFU B qualifiers.
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Team captain Daniel Bameyi leads the squad, which includes new names such as Israel Ayuma, Ebenezer Harcourt, Charles Agada, Auwal Ibrahim, Kparobo Arierhi, Tahir Maigana, and Odinaka Okoro. Regular fullback Adamu Maigari was ruled out through a knee injury.
The team departed Abuja for Chile on Sunday night, with Norway-based midfielder Daniel Daga expected to link up with the squad ahead of their opening game.
Nigeria will begin their campaign on 27 September, with the tournament running until 20 October.
Meanwhile, the Flying Eagles are chasing a first-ever title, having finished as runners-up in 1989 and 2005. At the last edition in Argentina, they exited in the quarter-finals to the Republic of Korea.
