Flying Eagles Return To Nigeria On Monday

The victorious Nigeria U-20 squad to Saturday’s 2017 Africa U-20 Cup of Nations qualifying match against Burundi in Bujumbura will return to the country on Monday, aboard an Ethiopian Airline flight from Addis Ababa.

Coach Emmanuel Amuneke led the Flying Eagles to a 1-0 win over the Young Swallows of Burundi in a second round, first leg qualifier at the Stade Prince Louis Rwagasore.

Kingsley Michael, Samuel Chukwueze and captain Kelechi Nwakali all came close to putting Nigeria in the lead in the first half, but failed.

Defensive midfielder Chukwudi Agor scored the match’s only goal in the 68th minute as the Flying Eagles, made up largely of last year’s FIFA U-17 World Cup champions, dominated in all aspects.

The second half belonged to the Flying Eagles. Nwakali and Chukwueze were impressive with some neat dribbles and runs and their efforts finally paid off as Chukwudi Agor capitalized on good work by the duo and sold a dummy before unleashing a grounder from the edge of the box that sailed into the opponents’ net for the only goal of the match. The scoreline stood that way at full time and gave the few Nigerians present at the stadium cause to celebrate. Flying Eagles Coach, Emmanuel Amuneke, admitted after the game that he was impressed with the performance of his boys and praised the host team for giving Nigeria a good test.

Accompanying official Sunday Okayi told thenff.com that the reigning African champions played against ‘grown men’ and had to rely on skill and technical superiority to keep the hosts in check.

The second leg match will take place at the UJ Esuene Stadium, Calabar on Saturday, 11th June.

Amuneke picks Nwakali, Osimhen, 16 others for Burundi

Coach Emmanuel Amuneke has cast his lot with his FIFA U-17 World Cup winners, with about 15 of them making the list of 18 players of the U-20 squad to this weekend’s 2017 CAF U-20 Cup of Nations qualifying match against Burundi in Bujumbura.

Team Secretary Aliyu Lawal Ibrahim told thenff.com that the Nigeria delegation will fly out of Abuja aboard an Ethiopian Airline plane today.

Nwakali, named the Player of the Tournament at the FIFA U-17 World Cup finals in Chile, where Nigeria scooped a fifth title, is joined by tournament best scorer Victor Osimhen and Bronze Boot winner Samuel Chukwueze.

There are also goalkeeper Akpan Udoh, defenders Ejike Ikwu, John Lazarus and Udochukwu Anumudu, midfielders Orji Okonkwo and Kingsley Michael and forwards Chukwudi Agor and Chinedu Madueke.

Emmanuel Amuneke

Nigeria and Burundi clash in a second round, first leg qualifying tie at the Prince Louis Stadium in Bujumbura on Saturday, starting from 3pm Burundi time (1pm Nigeria time). The winner of this fixture will confront Sudan in the final qualifying round.

Zambia will host the finals of the 2017 CAF U-20 Cup of Nations.

Flying Eagles for Burundi:

Kelechi Nwakali, Akpan Udoh, Chukwudi Agor, Ejike Ikwu, Anas Mohammed, Chinedu Madueke, Tobechukwu Ibe, Gavi Thompson, Samuel Chukwueze, Kehinde Ayinde, Orji Okonkwo, Victor Osimhen, Halilu Zakari, Udochukwu Anumudu, Kingsley Michael, Douglas Uzama, Chiaha Chisom, John Lazarus

Amuneke Drops Six More Players From Flying Eagles Camp

Head Coach of the Nigeria U-20, Coach Emmanuel Amuneke has finally pruned the number of players in camp to 31 after Saturday’s friendly match with Nigeria National League side, Supreme Court FC.

The match ended 1-0 in favour of the Flying Eagles but it also afforded the technical crew an opportunity to further assess the ability of the fringe players ahead of the May 22, CAF U-20 Africa Cup of Nations qualifier with Burundi in Bujumbura.

Midfielder Kingsley Michael scored from the penalty spot in the 65th minute for the only goal of the match that is the fifth in a series of games played so far by the U-20 boys.

On Saturday, Amuneke fielded a completely new team against Supreme Court FC but was left disappointed at half time as the Flying Eagles failed to exhibit what they have learnt in over three weeks of intensive training. The second stanza saw the introduction of ten new players as the U-20 boys began to dominate play, leading to a 65th minute penalty converted by Michael.

With twenty minutes left on the clock, the coaches introduced star players Victor Osimhen and Samuel Chukwueze to further pile pressure on the Abuja based team but their effort did not add to the scoreline as the match ended 1-0 at full time. Amuneke thanked the dropped players for their perseverance and endurance during the screening and advised them to stay fit as their services may still be required in the near future.

Emmanuel Amuneke

One more player will be dropped next week to further reduce the number in camp to thirty. The Flying Eagles have so far played five matches, including defeating Sia-One Academy 4-1, Dabo Babes 5-0, Ace FC of Kaduna 6-2 and drawing 0-0 with Dreams FC of Makurdi.

Nigeria must beat Burundi over two legs to advance to the final round of the qualifiers in July this year.

Flying Eagles Thrash Sia-One 4-1 In Friendly

Flying Eagles Head Coach, Emmanuel Amuneke fielded eight members of the Chile 2015 U-17 World Cup winners as his boys ran away 4-1 winners over Sia-One Academy in a friendly match at the FIFA Goal Project, Abuja on Saturday.

Tournament goleador, Victor Osimhen opened the floodgate of goals in an exciting match that was watched by cheering spectators, among them NFF 2nd Vice President/LMC chairman Shehu Dikko and NFF assistant technical directors Siji Lagunju and Rafiu Yusuf.

A well –worked move which started from the right wing found team captain Kelechi Nwakali who sent a through ball to an unmarked Victor Osimhen to slot home beautifully from close range in the 10th minute. That goal brought out the best from the Sia-One boys as they began to dictate the pace in the middle of the park forcing the Flying Eagles to retreat.

A reckless tackle by the Sia-One defence -line resulted in a penalty that was converted by Kelechi Nwakali in the 45th minute to make it 2-0 in favour of the Nigeria U-20 at the end of the first half.

The second half saw the introduction of six new players by coach Amuneke who was using the match to prepare his team ahead of next month’s Africa U-20 Cup of Nations qualifier against Burundi in Bujumbura.

Emmanuel Amuneke

Winger Orji Okonkwo was a constant threat from the wing for the Flying Eagles and in one of his dazzling runs down the flanks, he let loose a shot that was deflected into the net by a Sia-One defender for the third goal of the match. Sia-One academy however pulled one back in the 74th minute through striker Victor Sunday who had a really good game in attack alongside enterprising midfielder, Gary Aondofa.

The fourth goal was also an own goal but this time it took the brilliance of Victor Osimhen to force a sliding tackle that saw the ball sail into the net to make it a convincing 4-1 victory for the Flying Eagles.

Saturday’s friendly was the first of a series of friendly games lined up by Coach Amuneke to prepare his team ahead of the two –legged fixture with the Burundians.

Amuneke Opens Flying Eagles’ Camp

Head Coach of the Nigeria U-20 boys, Emmanuel Amuneke has opted to have a three –day open screening for new players ahead of the team’s camping for a 2017 Africa U-20 Cup of Nations qualifying fixture against Burundi.

Burundi progressed to be eligible to square up with Cup holders Nigeria after the Democratic Republic of Congo withdrew from the race.

Amuneke has called for open screening between Thursday, 7th April and Saturday, 9th April before a group of 30 invited players will arrive camp in Abuja on Monday, 11th April.

Team secretary Ibrahim Aliyu Lawal told thenff.com that 30 invited players will be camped at the Serob Legacy Hotel, in the Federal Capital Territory, ahead of the first leg of the fixture scheduled for Bujumbura on the weekend of 20th – 22nd May. The return leg will hold in Nigeria two weeks after.

The group of invited players is dominated by Nigeria’s 2015 FIFA U-17 World Cup winners, including goalkeeper Akpan Udoh and attacking midfielders Chukwudi Agor and Orji Okoronkwo.

Emmanuel Amuneke

INVITED PLAYERS:

Akpan Udoh, John Lazarus, David Enogela, Kingsley Michael, Funsho Bamgboye, Chinedu Madueke, Chukwudi Agor, Joel Osikel, Ejike Ikwu, Udochukwu Anumudu, Amos Benjamin, Osinachi Ebere, Orji Okonkwo, Chiaha Chisom, Suleiman Abdullahi, Kehinde Ayinde, Anas Mohammed, Douglas Uzama, Ayodeji Bamidele, Jack Ipalibo, Ernest Agenor, Najib Hamza, Johnson Umah, Chukwuebuka Okoroji, Gavi Thompson, Bright Etaghara, Samuel Obehi, Timothy Idoko, Abbas Usman, Yinusa Abdul