Head Coach for the Flying Eagles, Ladan Bosso, has called up 30 Under-20 Flying Eagles players to resume camp on Thursday (today) in Abuja in preparation for the games in Accra, Ghana, from March 8 to 24.
Ademola Olajire, Director of Communications at the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF), stated this in a statement on Wednesday in Abuja.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that a final list will be drawn from the 30 players invited to the Flying Eagles’ camp to fly Nigeria’s flag at the men’s football event.
Nigeria is aiming to go one step better after winning the silver medal at the last edition of the Games in Rabat, Morocco, in 2019.
He also led the Under-20 boys to the quarterfinals of the 2023 FIFA Under-20 World Cup finals in Argentina.
The invited players are expected to resume camp in the Federal Capital, Abuja, on Thursday at the Agete Luxury Hotel in Gwarinpa Estate.
Nigeria will play Uganda, South Sudan, Senegal, and Tunisia in that order in the group stage of the 13th African Games.
The full list of the invited players is: Goalkeepers: Nathaniel Nwosu (Water FC); Andy Ezekiel (Calabar Rovers); James Friday (Mavlon FC); and Femi Oriola (36 Lions).
Defenders: Daniel Bameyi (YumYum FC); Benjamin Frederick (Brentford FC, England); Ibrahim Abdullahi (Kano Pillars); Emmanuel Michael (Gombe United); Emmanuel Onoja (Heartland FC); Ime Sampson (Dakkada FC); Haruna Aliyu (Doma United).
Midfielders: Daniel Daga (Enyimba FC); Auwal Ibrahim (Akwa United); Yinka Shola (Madiba FC); Farouq Olanrewaju (Beyond Limits FC); Chibueze Izuogu (Enyimba FC); Simon Karshe (Mavlon FC); Ibrahim Adamu (Real Sapphire FC); Ibrahim Idris (Kano Pillars)
Forwards: Kehinde Ibrahim (36 Lions); Danjuma Lawali (Mahaniam FC); Oluwaseyi Akinfenwa (Real Sapphire FC); Ibrahim Lawal (36 Lions); Charles Agada (Mavlon FC); Nasir Muhammed (Capital City FC).
Others are: Sunday Joseph (Zamfara United); Olalekan Ibrahim (Central Football Academy); Muhammad Isiaka (Niger Tornadoes); Rabiu Abdullahi; and Nathaniel Arierhi (Beyond Limits FC)
Danjuma invites 23 players to camp
Christopher Danjuma, the coach of Nigeria’s Under-20 Girls, the Falconets, has invited 23 players to camp on Thursday in Abuja to commence preparations for the 13th African Games.
The invited players are expected to resume camp in the Federal Capital, Abuja, on Thursday, at the Agete Luxury Hotel in Gwarinpa Estate.
“Nigeria will play Morocco, Senegal, and Cameroon in the group stage of the 13th African Games (formerly All-Africa Games).
The list of invited players is as follows: Goalkeepers: Anderline Mgbechi (Delta Queens); Faith Omilana (Naija Ratels); Rachael Unachukwu (Nasarawa Amazons); Linda Jiwuaku (Bayelsa Queens)
Defenders: Oluchi Ohaegbulem (Nasarawa Amazons); Chiamaka Nkwocha (FC Robo Queens); Jumoke Alani (Nasarawa Amazons); Shukurat Oladipo (Nasarawa Amazons); Oluwabunmi Oladeji (Naija Ratels); Folashade Adegbemile (Delta Queens); Tumininu Adeshina (Naija Ratels)
Midfielders: Adoo Yina (Nasarawa Amazons); Taiwo Afolabi (Delta Queens); Olushola Shobowale (Nasarawa Amazons); Aminat Folorunsho (Rivers Angels); Chioma Olise (Edo Queens); Chinyere Kalu (Nasarawa Amazons)
Forwards: Edidiong Etim (Bayelsa Queens); Chiamaka Okwuchukwu (Rivers Angels); Chinaza Agoh (Delta Queens); Mary Nkpa (Heartland Queens); Chiamaka Osigwe (Edo Queens); Janet Akekoromowei (Asisat Academy)
NAN reports that over 4,000 athletes are expected to participate in the games. They will compete in 23 sports codes, namely arm wrestling, athletics, badminton, basketball (3×3), beach volleyball, boxing, chess, cricket, and cycling.
Others are: football, handball, hockey, judo, rugby, aquatics, table tennis, karate-do-taekwondo, tennis, triathlon, volleyball, weightlifting, and wrestling.
Seven out of the 23 sports codes—badminton, cycling, table tennis, tennis, triathlon, and wrestling—will double as qualifiers for the Paris Olympics in 2024, raising the stakes even higher.
Beyond the official competition, the Games will also feature a variety of demonstration sports that showcase emerging trends and disciplines.
These include eSports, mixed martial arts, speedball, sambo, and teqball.
(NAN)