Obuh drops three foreign, seven Nigerian based players for AYC

21 players have been selected for the biennial competition taking place in Algeria this month.

Ten Flying Eagles players did not make the final list of those selected for the African Youth Championship (AYC) in Algeria on Thursday and left the team’s camp in Tunis for their clubs.

The team’s media officer, Sam Audu, made the development known in a statement released in Abuja on Thursday.

A total of 21 players were eventually selected for the biennial AYC championship which will hold from March 16 to 30.

The statement noted that three foreign based professional players were dropped alongside seven domestic league players.

The decamped foreign based players are Mikel Agu (FC Porto), Saliu Sodiq (FC Metz), and Bright Osagie.

Seven other players who are based in Nigeria would fly out of Tunisia by 1 p.m. to Cairo where they would spend a night before leaving for Abuja the following day. The players are Yahaya Adamu, Harrison Egbune, Favour Ekoh, Azubuike Ikechukwu, Nzube Anaezemba, Ibrahim Aliyu and Oluwaseun Taro.

FIFA U-17 World Cup silver medalist, Edafe Egbedi, and NFA’s director of competitions, Mohammed Sanusi, were due in Tunisia via Morocco on Saturday.

The statement also said that the team had its visas to Algeria and would leave for Algiers on March 13 en route Oran where it would play its matches.

The Flying Eagles first match in the tournament is against Mali on March 17 in Group B.

The Final Nigerian Team List

Goalkeepers: Samuel Okani (Enyimba FC); Jonah Usman (ABS FC); Emmanuel Daniel (Rangers FC)

Defenders: Aigbe Oliha (Esperance Sportive de Zarzis); Goyi Aliyu (Nigeria); Abdullahi Shehu (Kano Pillars); Chizoba Amaefule (Dolphins FC); Ikechukwu Okorie (Enyimba FC); Kingsley Madu (El-Kanemi Warriors); Abubakar Hassan (Wikki Tourists FC)

Midfielders: Aminu Umar (Wikki Tourists FC); Abduljeleel Ajagun (Dolphins FC); Ovbokha Agboyi (Bayelsa United); Chidi Osuchukwu (Dolphins FC); Uche Agbo (Enyimba FC); Moses Orkuma (Lobi Stars)

Forwards: Bright Ejike (Heartland FC); Olanrewaju Kayode (Ansfed Utd, Turkey); Abdullahi Gero (Rangers FC); Christian Pyagbara (Sharks FC); Edafe Egbedi (AGF-Aarhus, Denmark)

(NAN)