BY Remi Sulola
The Golden Eaglets of Nigeria, five–time champions, have landed in host nation Brazil for the 2019 FIFA U17 World Cup finals.
The 18th edition of the men’s youth football tournament will hold from October 26 to November 17.
A team of 25 players and nine officials flew out of the country through the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja on Wednesday evening for Dubai, where they connected another flight to Sao Paulo, Brazil.
Four players would be cut from the roster after the preparatory period before a 21–man World Cup squad is unveiled ahead of the opening encounter.
Nigeria won the 1985, 1993, 2007, 2013 and 2015 tournaments, but missed the 2017 finals in India.
Manu Garba, head coach of the Eaglets who led the 2013 winners, said he is confident that the class of 2019 is in Brazil to reclaim the trophy.
The early departure will afford the Golden Eaglets a full two-week final preparatory period, before their opening match of the tournament against Hungary in Goiania on October 26.
Nigeria will then clash with Ecuador (at the same venue on October 29) and Australia (in Brasilia on November 1) in Group B.
Vitoria is the other city hosting the 24–nation championship.
Below are the twenty-five Eaglets in Brazil for the FIFA U17 World Cup finals.
Goalkeepers: Sunday Stephen, Joseph Oluwabusola, Daniel Jinadu.
Defenders: Charles Etim, Ogaga Oduko, Usman Ibrahim, Clement Ikenna, Shedrack Tanko, Quadri Edun, Oluwatimilehin Adeniyi, Simon Omon.
Midfielders: Samson Tijani, Akinkunmi Amoo, Daniel Francis, Ibraheem Jabaar, Ibrahim Sa’id, Monsuru Opeyemi, Fawaz Abdullahi, Idris Eletu-Odibo, Malcolm Ebowei, Peter Agba.
Forwards: Olakunle Olusegun, Wisdom Ubani, Divine Nwachukwu, Mayowa Abayomi.
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