The Nigerian U-20 team will participate in the tournament for the first time.

The technical crew of the Flying Eagles on Thursday dropped several key players, including team skipper, Abduljaleel Ajagun, and striker, Umar Aminu, for next week’s Toulon Tournament.

A statement by the team’s Media Officer, Samm Audu, said others also dropped were goalkeeper Jonah Usman, as well as Chidi Osuchukwu, Chizoba Amaefule, Agboyi Ovbokha, Sikiru Alimi and Lucky Omeruo.

“Tournament organisers have demanded that only 22 players be registered for the competition, which is expected to prepare several teams for the 2013 FIFA U-20 World Cup in Turkey.

“And, in view of that, the team’s technical crew believes it is better to allow only fringe and newly-listed players to go for the tournament.

“It will enable them to comfortably challenge for places in the final 21-man squad for the World Cup,’’ the statement said.

It named the players in the squad for the Toulon Tournament as including goalkeepers Samuel Okani (Enyimba), John Felegha (Eupen, Belgium) and Sebastian Osigwe (FC Emmenbrucke, Switzerland).

The defenders include Shehu Abdullahi (Kano Pillars), Moses Orkuma (Lobi Stars), Ikechukwu Okorie (Enyimba), Kingsley Madu (El-Kanemi), Collins Jamilu (HNK Rijeka, Croatia) and Wilfred Ndidi (Nath Boys).

The rest defenders are Oluwasemilogo Ajayi (Charlton Athletic youth team) and Hassan Abubakar (Wikki Tourists); while the midfielders include: Mathias Samuel (Kano Pillars), Christian Pyagbara (unattached) and Uche Agbo (Enyimba).

Midfielder Michael Olaitan of Olympiacos, Greece is also on the list, alongside forwards Edafe Egbedi (AGF Aarhus, Denmark), Daddy Moses (Unattached) and Bright Ejike (Heartland).

The other attackers are Olanrewaju Kayode (unattached), Daniel Etor (Akwa United), Alhaji Gero (Enugu Rangers) and Samuel Eduok (Dolphins).

The Flying Eagles, Nigeria’s under-20 men football team, are making their debut at the famous Toulon Tournament.

They will kick off their campaign on Wednesday, May 29, against defending champions Mexico.

The Flying Eagles are presently in Elfershausen, Germany, where they are fine-tuning preparations for the World Cup, scheduled to begin on June 21.

(NAN)