Nigeria’s U20 team, the Flying Eagles, have named a 30-man provisional squad for the African Youth Championship, which kicks off in Algeria from March 16.
The defending champions have picked four overseas-based players to battle to make the final 21-man squad for the tournament, which will be submitted to the Confederation of African Football not later than March 6.
The players are Mikel Agu (FC Porto), Saliu Sodiq (FC Metz, France), Bright Osagie (Red Bull Salzburg, Austria) and Edafe Egbedi (AGF Aarhus, Denmark).
Twenty-six other players are drawn from the Nigeria domestic league.
The squad will depart Abuja on Monday afternoon for two warm-up matches in Cairo against their Egyptian counterparts before they fly out to Tunisia for a three weeks training camp ahead of their title defence.
Meanwhile, the Nigeria Football Federation has tasked the team to retain the trophy they won in South Africa two years ago and qualify for the U20 World Cup in Turkey.
NFF’s director of Technical, Emmanuel Ikpeme, addressed the team before their departure to Cairo.
Ikpeme said: “We expect you to successfully defend your title and qualify for the World Cup.
“You should fight to make a name for yourselves in Algeria and we will support you fully.”
The squad:
Goalkeepers: Emmanuel Daniel, Jonah Usman, Samuel Okani
Defenders: Chizoba Amaefule, Shehu Abdullahi, Ikechukwu Okorie, Kingsley Madu, Hassan Abubakar, Ekoh Favour Oke, Aliyu Mohammed Goyi, Aigbe Oliha
Midfielders: Chidi Osuchukwu, Abduljeleel Ajagun,Uche Agbo, Ibrahim Abubakar Aliyu, Nzube Anaezemba, Moses Orkuma, Ovbokha Agboyi, Oluwaseun Taro, Okechukwu Azubuike, Saliu Sodiq, Mikel Agu
Strikers: Alhaji Gero, Umar Aminu, Christian Pyagbara, Harrison Egbune, Bright Ejike, Edafe Egbedi, Yahaya Adamu, Bright Osagie.