By Akinwale Kasali
Mass withdrawals have hit the Flying Eagles Team heading for the FIFA U-20 World Cup in Chile. This is worsened by the refusal of European Clubs to release players for the Youth World Championship.
French Club Side, Stade Reims and Germany Club Side, Hoffenheim have refused to release Nigerian players for the competition, which is not on FIFA’s official calendar.
This allows clubs to withhold players from international duty.
Emmanuel Chukwu and Precious Benjamin, both with Hoffenheim, will miss the tournament in Chile after the club turned down a request from the Nigeria Football Federation, NFF, for the Club to release the Nigeria International.
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 Football Club 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, witu 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.
The team however 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, which kicks off on September 27, will end on October 20 in Chile.
The Seven-time African champions, Nigeria will play all their Group F matches at the Estadio Fiscal in Talca, a city 250 kilometres from the Chilean capital, Santiago.
The Flying Eagles will first confront Norway on Monday, 29th September, before clashes with Saudi Arabia (2nd October) and Colombia (5th October).
The 24th FIFA U20 World Cup finals will be played across the cities of Santiago, Rancagua, Valparaiso and Talca.
The competition, which started as the FIFA World Youth Tournament, was launched in 1977 and was first hosted by Tunisia.
Nigeria were narrowly edged by Korea Republic after extra time in the semi finals at the last championship hosted by Argentina. The country finished as runners-up in 1989 in Saudi Arabia and in 2005 in The Netherlands.
Group A is headed by hosts Chile, and also has New Zealand, Japan and Egypt, while Group B entertains South Korea, Ukraine, Paraguay and Panama.
Brazil heads Group C that also has Mexico, Morocco and Spain, while Group D includes Italy, Australia, Cuba and multiple winners Argentina.
USA, New Caledonia, France and South Africa make up Group E.
The players listed for the tournament for Nigeria includes;
Goalkeepers: Ebenezer Harcourt (Sporting Lagos); Clinton Ezekiel (Bayelsa United); Rufa’i Abubakar (Mavlon FC)
Defenders: Ocheche Amos Onyejefu (Stade de Reims, France); Odinaka Okoro (Sporting Lagos); Daniel Bameyi (Bayelsa United); Marvelous Avberosou (Ikorodu City); Alatan Azuka (36 Lions); Akinyele Ahmed Olamide (Remo Stars)
Midfielders: Israel Ayuma (NK Istra, Croatia); Emmanuel Ekowoicho (FC Montana, Bulgaria); Mustapha Kamaldeen (Kwara Football Academy); Daniel Daga (Molde FC, Norway); Auwal Ibrahim (Akwa United); Nasiru Salihu (Qabala FC, Azerbaijan)
Forwards: Achichi Oseer (Royal Antwerp FC, Belgium); Sani Suleman (AS Trencin, Slovakia); Tahir Maigana (Wireless FC); Kparobo Arierhi (Lillestrom SK, Norway); Charles Agaba (NK Istra, Croatia); Abdullahi Shitu Ele (Manchester City FC, England).
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