Nwakali, Osimhen, 16 others listed
BY JOE APU
Ahead of this weekend’s CAF U-20 qualifier in Bujumbura, Burundi, Flying Eagles head coach, Emmanuel Amuneke yesterday released an 18-man squad for the task ahead.
The squad includes no fewer than 15 players from the victorious FIFA U-17 World Cup winners led by strikers Kelechi Nwakali and Victor Osimhen.
According to the team Secretary Aliyu Lawal Ibrahim who spoke with thenff.com, the Nigeria delegation will fly out of Abuja aboard an Ethiopian Airline plane on Wednesday.
Nwakali, named the Player of the Tournament at the FIFA U-17 World Cup finals in Chile, where Nigeria scooped a fifth title, is joined by tournament best scorer Victor Osimhen and Bronze Boot winner Samuel Chukwueze.
There are also goalkeeper Akpan Udoh, defenders Ejike Ikwu, John Lazarus and Udochukwu Anumudu, midfielders Orji Okonkwo and Kingsley Michael and forwards Chukwudi Agor and Chinedu Madueke.
Nigeria and Burundi clash in a second round, first leg qualifying tie at the Prince Louis Stadium in Bujumbura on Saturday, starting from 3pm Burundi time (1pm Nigeria time). The winner of the fixture will confront Sudan in the final qualifying round.
Zambia will host the finals of the 2017 CAF U-20 Cup of Nations.
Flying Eagles squad:
Kelechi Nwakali, Akpan Udoh, Chukwudi Agor, Ejike Ikwu, Anas Mohammed, Chinedu Madueke, Tobechukwu Ibe, Gavi Thompson, Samuel Chukwueze, Kehinde Ayinde, Orji Okonkwo, Victor Osimhen, Halilu Zakari, Udochukwu Anumudu, Kingsley Michael, Douglas Uzama, Chiaha Chisom, John Lazarus.