Nigeria’s build-up to the 2025 FIFA U-20 World Cup in Chile has been dealt a blow following the withdrawal of some key players, after their European clubs refused to release them for the tournament.
Stade Reims and Bundesliga outfit Hoffenheim both declined to release Nigerian youngsters, as the competition is not on FIFA’s official calendar, giving clubs the right to retain their players.
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As a result, Hoffenheim duo Emmanuel Chukwu and Precious Benjamin, alongside Stade Reims forward Ibrahim Hafiz, will miss the tournament. All three are regarded as top prospects for the Flying Eagles.
Head coach Aliyu Zubairu has now finalized a 21-man squad without several overseas-based stars. Enyimba winger Clinton Jephta, Bidemi Amole, and Divine Oliseh who featured at the U-20 WAFU B qualifiers in Togo were also omitted from the final list.
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The squad will be captained by Daniel Bameyi, with new additions including Israel Ayuma, Ebenezer Harcourt, Charles Agada, Auwal Ibrahim, Kparobo Arierhi, Tahir Maigana, and Odinaka Okoro. Regular fullback Adamu Maigari misses out due to a knee injury.
According to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), the Flying Eagles departed Abuja for Chile on Sunday night. Norway-based midfielder Daniel Daga is expected to link up with the team directly in Chile ahead of their opening fixture.
Nigeria, twice finalists in 1989 and 2005, are still chasing their first-ever FIFA U-20 World Cup crown. At the last edition in Argentina in 2023, the Flying Eagles bowed out in the quarter-finals after a defeat to the Republic of Korea.
This year’s tournament is scheduled to hold in Chile from September 27 to October 20, 2025.
