THE Flying Eagles will be involved in two friendly matches with Chile and Australia as part of their preparations for the FIFA U-20 World Cup, the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) announced today.
NFF Head of International Competitions, Dayo Enebi Achor, confirmed that the two-time silver medallists of the FIFA U-20 World Cup will take on host nation Chile on Saturday.
The Flying Eagles, who also won the bronze medal when then USSR hosted the championship in 1985, will then confront Australia on Tuesday next week.
Nigeria reached the quarter-finals of the last edition hosted by Argentina before a 1-0 defeat by Korea Republic after extra-time.
Meanwhile, the Flying Eagles, have departed Nigeria for Chile for a 12-day final phase camping in the South American nation ahead of the FIFA U-20 World Cup finals.
Seven-time African champions Nigeria will play all their Group F matches at the Estadio Fiscal in Talca, a city 250 kilometres from the Chilean capital Santiago.
They will first face Norway on Monday, September 29, before clashes with Saudi Arabia (October 2) and Colombia (October 5).
A team of 20 players and 11 officials (midfielder Daniel Daga will join the team in Chile from his base in Norway) departed from the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja last night, aboard a Turkish Airline flight to Istanbul, where the contingent will connect to Santiago – venue of their final phase camping.
The seven-time African champions had training sessions in Abuja for some weeks, before their departure.
The 24th FIFA U-20 World Cup will be played across the cities of Santiago, Rancagua, Valparaiso and Talca.
The competition, which started as the FIFA World Youth Championship, was launched in 1977 and was first hosted by Tunisia.
The Flying Eagles finished as runners-up in 1989 in Saudi Arabia and in 2005 in The Netherlands.
Group A is headed by hosts Chile, and also has New Zealand, Japan and Egypt, while Group B entertains South Korea, Ukraine, Paraguay and Panama.
Brazil head 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.
FLYING EAGLES FOR 2025 FIFA U-20 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)