The Flying Eagles lack of goals has been worsened after Belgian club KAA Gent refused to release striker Ahmed Abdullahi for the U20 AFCON.
Former Golden Eaglets star Ahmed scored twice in the U20 AFCON qualifiers in May before he was injured.
SCORENigeria learnt Gent have now said the 18-year-old striker will not join the Flying Eagles to the U20 AFCON because the competition is not on the international football calendar.
Officials have admitted the team are desperately shopping for proven goal getters with about a week to the deadline for the submission of a final squad for the U20 AFCON, which will also serve as qualifiers for the U20 FIFA World Cup in Indonesia in May.
The strikers from the recent training camp in Abuja have not been convincing.
