Coach Ladan Bosso has dropped captain Tosin Adegbite, while impressive defender Dominion Ohaka is conspicuously missing from a 35-man squad to begin training in Abuja Monday ahead of the U20 AFCON in Egypt next month.
Enyimba central defender Adegbite was outstanding when Nigeria topped the qualifying tournament for the U20 AFCON in May in Niger Republic.
However, he has been battling injuries lately and this stopped him from a training camp also in Abuja last month.
Ohaka, on the hand, shone at last month’s camp and was a sure bet for the U20 AFCON only for the Water FC star to not be listed altogether.
He has already been capped at U23 level and also featured for the CHAN Eagles in a friendly versus World Cup finalists Costa Rica in November.
Survivors from the WAFU B qualifiers in May 2022 include goalkeepers Nathanial Nwosu, Chijoke Anigboso and Saheed Akanbi, Augustine Njoku,Daniel Daga, Aminu Mohammed, Ibrahim Yahaya and Haliru Sarki.
There are as many as 11 fresh call-ups.
Otherwise, the new players who caught the eye in training camp December have been recalled to fight for places in a final 21-man squad for the tournament that will also serve as qualifier for the U20 FIFA World Cup in Indonesia in May.
Seven-time champions Nigeria are drawn in Group A alongside hosts Egypt, Senegal and Mozambique.
The tournament kicks off February 19 in Cairo.
The Full Squad:
Goalkeepers: Nathaniel Nwosu (Water FC); Chijioke Anigboso (Giant Brillars); Saheed Akanbi (Adoration FC); John Otunbulon (Mavloon FC)
Defenders: Benjamin Frederick (Nasarawa FC); Adedoyin Odole (36 Lions); Daniel Bamaiyi (YumYum FC); Femi Abubakar (Madiba FC); Nathaniel Tambe (Box2Box FC); Solomon Agbalaka (Broad City); Aminu Yusuf (Lobi Stars); Hassan Shaibu (Smart City); Augustine Njoku (Abia Warriors)
Midfielders: Daniel Daga (Dakkada FC); Ogbelu Onoche (Nasarawa United); Frederick Godwin (City FC); Jonathan Nicholas (Simoiben FC); Muhammad Aminu (Mailantarki FC); Shatima Umar; Abdulrahman Adam (Mahaniam FC); Caleb Ochedikwu (Mavloon FC); Ibrahim Yahaya (Mailatarki FC); Bilyaminu Musa (Mailafia FC); Musa Usman (Mailatarki (FC)
Forwards: Jude Sunday (Realsaphier FC); Ifesinachi Obiakwu (36 Lions); Adams Olalekan (Remo Stars); Emma Ochegbu (Plateau United); Haliru Sarki (Maikunkele FC); Christogonus Ibe (Chukwuebuka FC); Faruk Salami (Ikorodu City); Segun Otusanoya; Ayuba Francis (Nasarawa United); Promise Bernard (FAME FC); Shatima Abani (Plateau United)
