Flying Eagles depart Nigeria for U20 World Cup

By Mishael Emmanuel with additional reports 

Nigeria’s U20 male national football team, Flying Eagles, have departed the country for Chile, as they begin their final 12-day close camping ahead of the 2025 FIFA U20 World Cup, in the sunny South American nation.
 
Nigeria, seven-time African champions, are in Group F with Norway, Saudi Arabia and Columbia, will play at the Estadio Fiscal, Talca, some 250km from the Chilean capital, Santiago. 
 
The Flying Eagles will begin their U20 World Cup campaign against Norway on Monday, the 29th September, before taking on Saudi Arabia on October 2nd and then close their group stage campaign against Colombia on October 5.

20 players and 11 officials departed from the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja, North-Central, Nigeria, on Sunday evening, aboard a Turkish Airline flight to Istanbul, where the contingent will connect to Santiago – venue of the final phase of their presentations.
 
They will be joined by promising midfield talent, Daniel Daga. Daga who plays for Norwegian club side, Molde FC will join the team in Chile from his base in Norway.
 
Nigeria who reached the semi finals at the last edition of the championship in Argentina, have gone through weeks of rigorous training exercises in Abuja, as they look to better their performance at the event.
 
The 24th FIFA U20 World Cup finals will be played in four Chilean cities namely; Santiago, Rancagua, Valparaiso and Talca.
 
Group A is headed by hosts Chile, and also has New Zealand, Japan and Egypt, while Group B entertains South Korea, Ukraine, Paraguay and Panama.
 
Brazil heads Group C that also has Mexico, Morocco and Spain, while Group D includes Italy, Australia, Cuba and multiple winners Argentina. 
 
USA, New Caledonia, France and South Africa make up Group E.  
 
★ TEAM NIGERIA 
 
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, 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)

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