Nigeria’s Flying Eagles have announced their final squad for the upcoming FIFA U-20 World Cup in Chile, but will be without some important players due to club refusals and injury setbacks.
Coach Aliyu Zubairu confirmed that Adamu Maigari, the right-back who played every match of the U-20 AFCON and won a Man of the Match award, is out with a knee injury.
Meanwhile, European clubs Hoffenheim and Stade Réims refused to release several youth internationals, including Emmanuel Chukwu, Precious Benjamin, and Ibrahim Hafiz, citing that the tournament is not part of the official FIFA calendar. Their absences forced adjustments to the squad.
The Flying Eagles are in Group F with Norway, Colombia, and Saudi Arabia, and will depart Abuja for Chile on Sunday night, September 14 for final preparations.
