The Flying Eagles led by coach Ladan Bosso Thursday submitted a final 21-man to CAF for the U20 AFCON, SCORENigeria can specially report.
All 12 qualifiers for the U20 AFCON are obliged to submit a final 21-man squad to the organisers not later than 10 days to the tournament, which kicks off February 19 in Cairo, Egypt.
SCORENigeria further scooped that the biggest absentee from the Flying Eagles final squad is Nasarawa United striker Francis Ayuba, who at a time looked like the man to lead the team’s attack in Egypt.
The last-minute inclusion of Belgium-based striker Ahmed Abdullahi first accounted for Segun Otusanya from the 25-man squad to Morocco and now it has also cost Ayuba his place in the final squad.
Ikon Allah Academy star Ayuba is full of power and running, but he has struggled to score goals against top opposition.
Midfielders Musa Usman and Shatima Umar as well as little-known winger Kingsley James also missed the final cut even though they flew out to Morocco with the team for a training tour ahead of the U20 AFCON.
The four players have all been placed on standby in case of injury.
The final squad has three goalkeepers, six defenders, six midfielders and six forwards.
Three foreign-based players, namely Abel Ogwuche (Trelleborgs FF/Sweden), Michael Ologo (Istanbulspor/Turkey) and Ahmed Abdullahi (KAA Gent/Belgium), made the final cut.
Nigeria are drawn in Group A based in Cairo along with host nation Egypt, Senegal and Mozambique.
They begin their campaign on February 19 against Senegal.
The competition is also a qualifying tournament for the 2023 FIFA U20 World Cup in Indonesia in May as the four semifinalists in Egypt will represent Africa.
The Final 21-man Flying Eagles squad to 2023 U20 AFCON:
Goalkeepers: Nathaniel Nwosu, Chijioke Anigboso, Saheed Akanbi
Defenders: Daniel Bamaiyi, Michael Ologo, Abel Ogwuche, Solomon Agbalaka, Augustine Njoku, Benjamin Frederick
Midfielders: Daniel Daga, Onuche Ogbelu, Mohammed Aminu, Jonathan Nicholas, Caleb Ochedikwu, Samson Lawal
Forwards: Jude Sunday, Ahmed Abdullahi, Adams Olamilekan, Haliru Sarki, Emmanuel Uchegbu, Ibrahim Mohammed ‘Ibeji’
Standby: Musa Usman, Shatima Umar (Midfielders), Kingsley James, Francis Ayuba (Forwards)
