French Ligue 1 club Stade Reims and Hoffenheim in the German Bundesliga have refused to release players to the Flying Eagles for the forthcoming U20 World Cup.
According to reports Emmanuel Chukwu and Precious Benjamin, who featured at the U20 AFCON in Egypt, will miss the World Cup after Hoffenheim blocked their release.
Stade Reims striker Ibrahim Hafiz recently trained with the Flying Eagles as coach Aliyu Zubairu shopped for sharp shooters.
However, the French club will not release Hafiz for the World Cup in Chile.
The clubs can refuse the release of players as the U20 World Cup is not on the international calendar.
…Ayuma, Harcourt, Agada Make final List
In the emantime, there are major changes to the Flying Eagles final 21-man squad leading up to the 2025 FIFA U20 World Cup, which kicks off in Chile later this month.
Enyimba winger Clinton Jephta, Bidemi Amole and Divine Oliseh, who featured at last year’s U20 AFCON WAFU B qualifiers in Togo have been dropped.
It was further learnt that skipper Daniel Bemeyi now leads at least 10 players, who have been involved with the team in the past one month, to Chile.
Israel Ayuma, Ebenezer Harcourt, Charles Agada, Auwal Ibrahim, Kparobo Arierhi, Tahir Maigana, Odinaka Okoro are among the old players who made the final cut to South America.
Fullback Adamu Maigari misses out after he suffered a major knee injury.
The squad of 20 players led by coach Aliyu Zubairu will fly out of Abuja tonight.
Norway-based midfielder Daniel Daga will complete the squad in Chile.
SCORENigeria.
