Abuja – Flying Eagles’ Head Coach Emmanuel Amuneke has decided to have a three-day open screening for new players ahead of the team’s preparations for upcoming continental qualifiers.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) recalls that the national under-20 male football team is camping in Abuja for a 2017 Africa U-20 Cup of Nations qualifying fixture against Burundi.
Burundi had advanced for the clash with Cup holders Nigeria after the Democratic Republic of Congo withdrew from the qualifiers.
According to a statement from the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) on Wednesday, Amuneke has called for open screening between Thursday and Saturday.
This open screening of players will be before a group of 30 invited players will arrive camp in Abuja on Monday.
The statement quoted Team Secretary Ibrahim Lawal as saying the 30 invited players would be camped at the Serob Legacy Hotel, ahead of the first leg of the fixture.
NAN reports that the first leg clash is scheduled for Bujumbura on the weekend of May 20 to May 22, while the return leg will hold in Nigeria two weeks later.
The group of invited players is dominated by Nigeria’s 2015 FIFA U-17 World Cup winners, including goalkeeper Akpan Udoh and attacking midfielders Chukwudi Agor and Orji Okoronkwo.
The full list of invited players has Udoh, John Lazarus, David Enogela, Kingsley Michael, Funsho Bamgboye, Chinedu Madueke, Agor, Joel Osikel, Ejike Ikwu, Udochukwu Anumudu, Amos Benjamin and Osinachi Ebere.
Others on the list are Okoronkwo, Chiaha Chisom, Suleiman Abdullahi, Kehinde Ayinde, Anas Mohammed, Douglas Uzama, Ayodeji Bamidele, Jack Ipalibo, Ernest Agenor, Najib Hamza and Johnson Umah.
The rest are Chukwuebuka Okoroji, Gavi Thompson, Bright Etaghara, Samuel Obehi, Timothy Idoko, Abbas Usman and Yinusa Abdul.(NAN)