- Flying Eagles head coach, Ladan Bosso has taken a major step towards Nigeria's preparations for the 2023 FIFA U-20 World Cup in Argentina by inviting 39 players to camp in Abuja.
This move is part of the final preparations that the team is making ahead of the competition, scheduled to take place between 20 May and 11 June.
Following the withdrawal of hosting rights from Indonesia, FIFA awarded the hosting rights for this year's tournament to Argentina, which means that the Flying Eagles, who finished third at the Africa U20 Cup of Nations in Egypt last month, will be one of four African teams that will fly the continent's flag at the finals.
The team will be made up of a mix of new and old players, with goalkeeper Chijioke Aniagboso, star defender Solomon Agbalaka, midfield ace Muhammad Aminu, and flying forward Haliru Sarki among the invitees.
All the invited players have been instructed to report at the Chida Hotel in Abuja on Sunday, 16th April, with training sessions scheduled to commence on Monday.
The Flying Eagles will be looking to improve on their last performance at the World Cup in 2019, where they crashed out in the Round of 16 after losing 2-1 to Senegal.
The team finished in third place at the Africa U20 Cup of Nations in Egypt last month.
The Nigerian U20 national side has a rich history in youth football, having picked up runners-up medals at the U20 World Cup in 1989 and 2005.
THE 39 INVITED PLAYERS:
Goalkeepers: Nathaniel Nwosu (Water FC); Chijioke Aniagboso (Giant Brillars); Saheed Jimoh (B. E. Arena Academy); John Otomblon (Mavlon FC)
Defenders: Augustine Njoku (Abia Warriors); Ezekiel Bala; Muhammad Abdulsalam (Rising Stars); Solomon Agbalaka (Broad City FC); Israel Domingo (Family Worship FC): Benjamin Frederick (Nasarawa United); Femi Abubakar (Madiba FC); Daniel Bameyi (Yum Yum FC); Wisdom Udoh (Akwa United); Akinwale Akanbi (Lionheart FC)
Midfielders: Caleb Uchedikwu (Mavlon FC); Ogbelu Onuche (Nasarawa United); Daniel Daga (Dakkada FC): Samson Lawal (Pro-Success Academy); Bilyaminu Musa (Mailafia FC); Hitler Eniye (36 Lion FC); Muhammad Aminu (Gombe United); John Joshua (Nasarawa United); Musa Usman (Mailantarki FC); Ibrahim Abdullahi (Samba FC)
Forwards: Haliru Sarki (Mahaniam FC); Kehinde Ibrahim (Green Light FC): Shettima Abubakar (Central Academy); Jude Sunday (Real Sapphire FC): Obiaku Ifesinachi (36 Lion FC); Abdullahi Usman (Samba FC); Salem Fago (Mavlon FC); Godwin Ositgbami (Kwara United); Babangida Abubakar (Mailantarki FC); Nurudeen Bala (Maikunkele FC); Olaitan Fabode (3SC); Adams Olubi; Adamu Aliyu (Nasarawa United); Ibrahim Beji (Cartagena FC); Ayatollah Usman (Niger Tornadoes)
