Nigeria’s U-20 national football squad, known as the Flying Eagles, has embarked on a 12-day training camp in Chile as they prepare for the upcoming FIFA U-20 World Cup finals.
The team, boasting seven African championship titles, will host all their Group F fixtures at Estadio Fiscal in Talca, a city located approximately 250 kilometers from Chile’s capital, Santiago.
The Flying Eagles are set to open their campaign against Norway on Monday, 29th September, followed by matches against Saudi Arabia on 2nd October and Colombia on 5th October.
According to a statement released on Monday by Dr. Ademola Olajire, Director of Communications for the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF), a delegation comprising 20 players and 11 officials departed from Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport in Abuja on Sunday evening. They flew via Turkish Airlines to Istanbul, where they connected to Santiago, the base for their final preparations.
Midfielder Daniel Daga will join the squad directly in Chile, traveling from his club in Norway.
Prior to their departure, the Flying Eagles underwent several weeks of intensive training sessions in Abuja to fine-tune their readiness.
The 24th edition of the FIFA U-20 World Cup will be hosted across multiple Chilean cities, including Santiago, Rancagua, Valparaiso, and Talca.
Originally inaugurated in 1977 as the FIFA World Youth Tournament in Tunisia, this prestigious competition has grown into a global showcase for emerging football talent.
At the previous tournament held in Argentina, Nigeria was narrowly defeated by South Korea in the semi-finals after extra time.
Historically, Nigeria has twice finished as runners-up in this tournament: first in 1989 in Saudi Arabia and again in 2005 in the Netherlands.
The tournament groups are as follows: Group A features hosts Chile, New Zealand, Japan, and Egypt; Group B includes South Korea, Ukraine, Paraguay, and Panama; Group C is led by Brazil alongside Mexico, Morocco, and Spain; Group D contains Italy, Australia, Cuba, and multiple-time champions Argentina; while Group E consists of the USA, New Caledonia, France, and South Africa.
Flying Eagles Squad for the 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)
