Scoring goals, which has bedeviled the Flying Eagles in major tournaments, will again be at the fore at the 2025 U20 World Cup in Chile going by the final squad named by coach Aliyu Zubairu.
They barely sneaked into third place at the U20 AFCON in Egypt as the strikers struggled in front of goal.
Norway-based Kparobo Ariehi, who was the team’s leading scorer with three goals at last year’s WAFU B qualifiers, was not at his element in Egypt and it was left for midfielders and defenders to get the team across the line in North Africa.
Hoffenheim youngster Precious Benjamin showed some bite, but could also not deliver the goals.
He did not make the final cut to Chile 2025 and instead Croatia-based Charles Agada has been recalled after he did not kick a ball at the WAFU qualifiers, while the likes of Orseer Achihi (Antwerp) and Shittu Abdullahi (Manchester City) remain unknown quantities.
Strangely, Stade Reims striker Hafiz Ibrahim, who shone when he trained with the U20s in Abuja recently, was overlooked for the World Cup.
Team officials said everything was done to get Hafiz on board, but that they could not secure a guarantee he will be released by French club Stade Reims, where he is with the first team.
Both the club and player have since made it clear he would have been available for the World Cup.
The same French club also released defender Amos Echoche as he is with the reserves.
Daniel Daga is the notable addition to the squad to South America, which is short of the quality of the team to the U20 AFCON earlier this year.
This will be his second U20 World Cup after he played a big role for the Flying Eagles to reach the last eight in Argentina two years.
His experience and combative style will improve the midfield, which also has former El Kanemi Warriors captain Nasiru Salihu, who has since transferred to Azerbaijan.
Flying Eagles Full Squad:
Goalkeepers: Ifeanyi Ebenezer Harcourt (Sporting Lagos); Rufai Abubakar (Mavlon FC); Clinton Ezekiel (Bayelsa United).
Defenders: Odinaka Okoro (Sporting Lagos); Daniel Bameyi (Primorje Ajdovščina, Slovenia); Freedom Marvellous (Ikorodu City); Ahmed Akinyele (Remo Stars); Azuka Alanta (36 Lion); Amos Echoche (Stade Reims B, France)
Midfielders: Israel Isaac Ayuma (NK Istra, Croatia); Emmanuel Ekele (PFC Montana, Bulgaria); Kamaldeen Mustapha (Kwara Football Academy); Auwal Ibrahim (Akwa United); Daniel Daga (Molde, Norway).
Forwards: Tahir Maigana (Wireless FC); Kparobo Nathaniel Arierhi (Lillestrom SK, Norway); Orseer Achihi (Royal Antwerp, Belgium); Sani Suleiman (AS Trencin, Slovakia); Charles Agada (NK Istra, Croatia); Nasiru Salihu (NK Gabala, Azerbaijan); Shittu Abdullahi (Manchester City, England)
