There are strong indications that several overseas clubs will not release players to the Flying Eagles for next month’s U20 AFCON and so coach Ladan Bosso will have to make do with a team dominated by players based at home.
Highly-rated Sao Paulo of Brazil striker Azeez Balogun has already pulled out as he cannot be in camp before the final squad list is submitted to CAF.
SCORENigeria gathered that the Flying Eagles have sent out invitation letters to some of these clubs, but they have yet to receive a response.
The competition is not on the international calendar and as such foreign clubs are not obliged to release players to feature there.
In May 2022, when the Flying Eagles topped a qualifying tournament for the U20 AFCON only overseas-based player was striker Adam Olubi from Lithuania.
Coach Ladan Bosso has insisted foreign-based pros must come down to Nigeria to prove they are good enough for his team as there will not be automatic shirts for any player.
Overseas-based players are expected a week after the camp opens in Abuja.
