Ahead of tonight’s deadline, Flying Eagles’ Head Coach Manu Garba has unveiled a list of 21 players who will represent Nigeria at the 19th African Youth Championship in Senegal next month.
There are no major surprises in the final roster even as skipper Musa Muhammed, who led the U-17 squad that won for Nigeria a record fourth FIFA U-17 World Cup in the United Arab Emirates in 2013, has also been given the nod to continue in that position.
Other members of the all-conquering U-17 world champions that made the Flying Eagles cut includes Akinjide Idowu, Izuchukwu Omego, Abdullahi Alpha, Dele Alampasu, Chidera Ezeh and Taiwo Awoniyi.
Nigeria are in a fairly tough group where they will play host Senegal, Congo-Brazzaville and Cote d’Ivoire in Group A of the tournament scheduled for 8th – 22nd March in the Senegalese cities of Dakar and M’Bour.On the hand, Ghana, Mali, South Africa and Zambia play in Group B. Just like the U17 African championships, semifinalists in Senegal will get the nod to fly Africa’s flag at the FIFA U-20 World Cup finals in New Zealand, scheduled for 30th May – 20th July this year.
Qualification for the World Cup remains the major target for the Coach Manu led side but adding to the six AYC titles already in the kitty for Nigeria is another target manyhope the Flying Eagles will achieve.