Flying Eagles Depart Nigeria for 12-Day Camping in Chile Ahead of World Cup Finals
…Set to take on Chile, Australia in International Friendly
Abuja (Core Reporters) Nigeria’s U20 boys, the Flying Eagles, have departed the country for Chile, where they will undergo a 12-day final phase camping ahead of their participation in this year’s FIFA U20 World Cup finals.
The team will play all their Group F matches at the Estadio Fiscal in Talca, a city 250 kilometers from the Chilean capital, Santiago. Their schedule includes matches against Norway on September 29, Saudi Arabia on October 2, and Colombia on October 5.
A team of 20 players and 11 officials departed from the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport in Abuja on Sunday evening, aboard a Turkish Airlines flight to Istanbul, where they will connect to Santiago.
Meanwhile, the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) has finalized arrangements for the the boys, to sharpen their skills and competition-readiness with two friendly games against host nation Chile and Australia, ahead of the World Cup finals.
Head of International Competitions, Dayo Enebi Achor, confirmed that the two-time silver medallists of the FIFA U20 World Cup will take on host nation Chile, who play in Group A of the competition alongside New Zealand, Japan and Egypt, on Saturday, September 20.
Nigeria, who also won the bronze medals when then USSR hosted the championship in 1985, will then confront Australia, who play in Group D alongside Italy, Cuba and Argentina, on Tuesday, September 23.
Team Roster:
– *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)
