TheCable

Manchester City forward, Kelechi Iheanacho, is in coach Manu Garba’s 21-man list of players who will wear the nation’s colours at this year’s FIFA U-20 World Cup finals in New Zealand.

The 2013 FIFA U-17 World Cup MVP is joined by skipper Musa Muhammed and fans’ favourite Taiwo Awoniyi in the squad.

Garba has also included Spain-based Success Isaac, Enyimba’s midfielder Kingsley Sokari, defence stalwarts Wilfred Ndidi and Izu Omego, and Belgium-based forward Moses Simon.

Attack-minded defender Chidiebere Nwakali, who shone at the U-17 World Cup, as well as midfielder Akinjide Idowu and goalkeeper Joshua Enaholo are also going to New Zealand.

Nigeria will play Brazil in their first match in New Plymouth on June 1, before other Group E games against North Korea and Hungary in the same city.

Nigeria’s best performance in the U-20 World Cup is the silver medal won in 1989 and again in 2005.

THE FULL LIST

Goalkeepers

Joshua Enaholo (MFM FC); Dele Alampasu (Football College Academy); Olorunleke Ojo (Giwa FC)

Defenders

Musa Muhammed (FC Heart Academy); Mustapha Abdullahi (Spotlight FC); Zaharaddeen Bello (Dabo Babes Academy); Wilfred Ndidi (KRC Genk, Belgium); Izu Omego (Apapa Golden Stars); Chidiebere Nwakali (Manchester City, England)

Midfielders

Akinjide Idowu (Nigeria Young Academy); Ifeanyi Ifeanyi (Water FC); Kingsley Sokari (Enyimba FC); Ifeanyi Mathew (El-Kanemi Warriors); Musa Yahaya (Tottenham FC, England); Bernard Bulbwa (Esperance ST, Tunisia); Godwin Saviour (FC Sports)

Forwards

Taiwo Awoniyi (Imperial Academy); Chidera Ezeh (FC Porto, Portugal); Kelechi Iheanacho (Manchester City, England); Moses Simon (KAA Gent, Belgium); Success Isaac (Granada FC, Spain)