Preparations for Nigeria’s Flying Eagles ahead of the 2025 FIFA U-20 World Cup have been confirmed by key players’ withdrawals.
French club Stade Reims and Germany’s Hoffenheim have refused to release Nigerian players for the competition, which is not on FIFA’s official calendar.
Recalled, 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.
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 winger Clinton Jephta, along with Bidemi Amole and Divine Oliseh, who featured at the U-20 WAFU B qualifiers in Togo, was left out.
Team captain Daniel Bameyi headlines the squad. 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.
