Nigeria’s U-20 football team, the Flying Eagles have departed the country for Chile for a 12-day final phase camping in the South American nation ahead of their participation in this year’s FIFA U20 World Cup finals.
The seven-time African champions will play all their Group F matches at the Estadio Fiscal in Talca, a city 250 kilometres from the Chilean capital, Santiago.
Flying Eagles will first confront Norway on Monday, 29th September before clashes with Saudi Arabia on 2nd October and Colombia on 5th October.
In a statement on Monday by the NFF Director of Communication, Dr Ademola Olajire, a team of 20 players and 11 officials departed from the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja Sunday evening aboard a Turkish Airline flight to Istanbul, where the contingent was expected to connect with Santiago, the venue of their final phase camping.
The statement added that midfielder Daniel Daga will join the team in Chile from his base in Norway.
The seven-time African champions had training sessions in Abuja for some weeks, before Sunday’s departure.
The 24th FIFA U20 World Cup finals will be played across the cities of Santiago, Rancagua, Valparaiso and Talca.
The competition, which started as the FIFA World Youth Tournament was launched in 1977 and was first hosted by Tunisia.
Nigeria were narrowly edged by Korea Republic after extra time in the semi finals at the last championship hosted by Argentina.
The country finished as runners-up in 1989 in Saudi Arabia and in 2005 in The Netherlands.
Group A has hosts Chile on top, alongside New Zealand, Japan and Egypt, while Group B has South Korea, Ukraine, Paraguay and Panama.
Brazil heads Group C that also has Mexico, Morocco and Spain, while Group D includes Italy, Australia, Cuba and multiple winners Argentina. USA, New Caledonia, France and South Africa make up Group E.
The Flying Eagles List For World Cup:
Goalkeepers: Ebenezer Harcourt (Sporting Lagos); Clinton Ezekiel (Bayelsa United); Rufa’i Abubakar (Mavlon FC)
Defenders: Ocheche Amos Onyejefu (Stade de Reims, France); Odinaka Okoro (Sporting Lagos); Daniel Bameyi (Bayelsa United); Marvelous Avberosou (Ikorodu City); Alatan Azuka (36 Lions); Akinyele Ahmed Olamide (Remo Stars)
Midfielders: Israel Ayuma (NK Istra, Croatia); Emmanuel Ekowoicho (FC Montana, Bulgaria); Mustapha Kamaldeen (Kwara Football Academy); Daniel Daga (Molde FC, Norway); Auwal Ibrahim (Akwa United); Nasiru Salihu (Qabala FC, Azerbaijan).
Forwards: Achichi Oseer (Royal Antwerp FC, Belgium); Sani Suleman (AS Trencin, Slovakia); Tahir Maigana (Wireless FC); Kparobo Arierhi (Lillestrom SK, Norway); Charles Agaba (NK Istra, Croatia); Abdullahi Shitu Ele (Manchester City FC, England).
