Nigeria’s U-20 national teams, the Flying Eagles and Falconets, are gearing up to reconvene training camps in Abuja today to kickstart preparations for the men’s and women’s football competitions of the 13th African Games, slated to be held in Accra, Ghana, in March.
The head coach of the Flying Eagles, Ladan Bosso, has extended invitations to a total of 30 players for the camp, from which the final squad will be selected to represent the nation in the men’s football tournament. Nigeria is eyeing gold after clinching the silver medal in the previous edition of the Games in Rabat, Morocco, in 2019.
Bosso, who guided the Flying Eagles to the quarterfinals of last year’s FIFA U-20 World Cup in Argentina, a stage the team reached under his leadership in Canada in 2007, is poised to lead the charge once again.
On the other hand, Chris Danjuma, head coach of the Falconets, has summoned 23 players to the camp. Danjuma, who guided his 2022 World Cup quarter-finalist team to secure a berth in this year’s FIFA U-20 Women’s World Cup in Colombia, is primed to lead the women’s squad.
All invited players for both teams have been instructed to report at the Agete Luxury Hotel in Gwarinpa Estate, Abuja, tomorrow by the Nigeria Football Federation.
In the group stage of the 13th African Games, the Flying Eagles are slated to face Uganda, South Sudan, Senegal, and Tunisia consecutively, while the Falconets will lock horns with Morocco, Senegal, and Cameroon.
Below are the invited players for both squads:
Flying Eagles
Goalkeepers:
- Nathaniel Nwosu (Water FC)
- Andy Ezekiel (Calabar Rovers)
- James Friday (Mavlon FC)
- Femi Oriola (36 Lions)
Defenders:
- Daniel Bameyi (YumYum FC)
- Benjamin Frederick (Brentford FC, England)
- Ibrahim Abdullahi (Kano Pillars)
- Emmanuel Michael (Gombe United)
- Emmanuel Onoja (Heartland FC)
- Ime Sampson (Dakkada FC)
- Haruna Aliyu (Doma United)
Midfielders:
- Daniel Daga (Enyimba FC)
- Auwal Ibrahim (Akwa United)
- Yinka Shola (Madiba FC)
- Farouq Olanrewaju (Beyond Limits FC)
- Chibueze Izuogu (Enyimba FC)
- Simon Karshe (Mavlon FC)
- Ibrahim Adamu (Real Sapphire FC)
- Ibrahim Idris (Kano Pillars)
Forwards:
- Kehinde Ibrahim (36 Lions)
- Danjuma Lawali (Mahaniam FC)
- Oluwaseyi Akinfenwa (Real Sapphire FC)
- Ibrahim Lawal (36 Lions)
- Charles Agada (Mavlon FC)
- Nasir Muhammed (Capital City FC)
- Sunday Joseph (Zamfara United)
- Olalekan Ibrahim (Central Football Academy)
- Muhammad Isiaka (Niger Tornadoes)
- Rabiu Abdullahi
- Nathaniel Arierhi (Beyond Limits FC)
Falconets
Goalkeepers:
- Anderline Mgbechi (Delta Queens)
- Faith Omilana (Naija Ratels)
- Rachael Unachukwu (Nasarawa Amazons)
- Linda Jiwuaku (Bayelsa Queens)
Defenders:
- Oluchi Ohaegbulem (Nasarawa Amazons)
- Chiamaka Nkwocha (FC Robo Queens)
- Jumoke Alani (Nasarawa Amazons)
- Shukurat Oladipo (Nasarawa Amazons)
- Oluwabunmi Oladeji (Naija Ratels)
- Folashade Adegbemile (Delta Queens)
- Tumininu Adeshina (Naija Ratels)
Midfielders:
- Adoo Yina (Nasarawa Amazons)
- Taiwo Afolabi (Delta Queens)
- Olushola Shobowale (Nasarawa Amazons)
- Aminat Folorunsho (Rivers Angels)
- Chioma Olise (Edo Queens)
- Chinyere Kalu (Nasarawa Amazons)
Forwards:
- Edidiong Etim (Bayelsa Queens)
- Chiamaka Okwuchukwu (Rivers Angels)
- Chinaza Agoh (Delta Queens)
- Mary Nkpa (Heartland Queens)
- Chiamaka Osigwe (Edo Queens)
- Janet Akekoromowei (Asisat Academy)
