Villareal of Spain prodigy Samuel Chukwueze is expected to join Nigeria’s U20 team; the Flying Eagles in Germany ahead of next month’s FIFA U20 World Championship in Poland.
There has been a protracted debate over the usage of the teenage star this summer as he is eligible to feature for Nigeria’s Under 20s, Under-23s and the senior national team which he debuted for, last November. It now appears the Under 20 World Cup will be it for Samu.
The Flying Eagles, coached by former Warri Wolves coach Paul Aigbogun are leaving Nigeria on Saturday night ahead of a three-week camping for the mundial and Villareal’s number 30 has been pencilled among the oversea based players to join up with the team.
Twenty-three players led by captain Ikouwem Udo Utin are on the plane to Germany on Saturday night also including Super Eagles invitee Valentine Ozornwafor and Plateau United quartet of Mike Zaruma, Rabiu Mohammad, Saeed Jibril and Abubakar Ibrahim. Plateau are coached by Aigbogun’s assistant; Abdu Maikaba.
Aside Chukwueze, his teammate in the gold winning Chile 2015 Under-17 Eaglets Kingsley Michael is also among the eight overseas based players expected to join the team in England with England based Tom Dele-Bashiru also in the mix.
Nigeria are drawn in the same group alongside Qatar, USA and Ukraine at the 2019 FIFA U20 World Cup finals to be hosted by Poland.
FLYING EAGLES FOR TRAINING CAMP IN GERMANY
Detan Ogundare, Olawale Oremade, Matthew Yakubu, Mike Zaruma, Rabiu Mohammad, Solomon Onome, Ikouwem Utin, Quadri Liameed, Adewale Oladoye, Peter Eletu, Ernest Chidiebere, Victor Arikpo, Effiom Maxwell, Abubakar Ibrahim, Adeshina Gata, Aniekeme Okon, Sor Collins, Ahmad Ghali, Aliu Salawudeen, Tijani Muhammad, Pascal Durugbor, Saeed Jibril, Valentine Ozornwafor.
Overseas-Based: Samuel Chukwueze, Kingsley Michael, Ash Kigbu, Tom Dele-Bashiru, Chinedu Ekene, Henry Offia, Abubakar Jibril, Hamdi Akujobi
