WAFU B U-20 Tourney: Soname offers N5m incentive to Flying Eagles

…as Zubair unveils squad

By Tosin Omojola

Proprietor of Remo Stars Football Club, Honourable Kunle Soname, has pledged a reward of five million naira (N5m) to Nigeria’s U-20 national team, the Flying Eagles, if they win the U-20 Nations Cup, taking place in Lome, Togo.

Honourable Soname, who gave one million naira (N1m) to the team upon their departure from Ikenne after a week-long training camp, assured the players that the promised reward awaits them if they successfully retain the trophy, last won by Nigeria.

Meanwhile, Head Coach Aliyu Zubair has selected talented midfielder Nasiru Salihu and forward Charles Agada among the 20 players set to represent Nigeria at the WAFU B U-20 Championship, which kicks off in Lome, Togo, on Thursday. The championship serves as a qualifying tournament for next year’s Africa U-20 Cup of Nations.

The contingent of 20 players and 12 officials arrived in Lome on Tuesday afternoon, following an intensive week of final preparations at the Remo Stars Training Complex in Ikenne, Ogun State.

The Flying Eagles are the reigning champions, having won the last edition of the tournament held in Niamey, Niger Republic. They are set to face Burkina Faso in their opening match on Friday and will also play Cote d’Ivoire in a three-team Group B. The top two teams from each group will advance to the semi-finals.

Group A consists of host nation Togo, Ghana, Niger Republic, and Benin Republic.

Full Squad:

Goalkeepers:

• Ifeanyi Harcourt (Sporting Lagos)
• Nathaniel Nwosu (Nasarawa United)

Defenders:

• Adamu Maigari (El-Kanemi Warriors)
• Daniel Bameyi (Bayelsa United)
• Kenneth Igboke (Enugu Rangers)
• Haruna Aliyu (Doma United)
• Musa Ademu (Wireless FC)
• Olalekan Alabi (El-Kanemi Warriors)

Midfielders:

• Raphael Oyebanjo (Shuffle Select FC)
• Muhammad Ibrahim (Niger Tornadoes)
• Oluwaseyi Akinfenwa (Real Sapphire FC)
• Ibrahim Abdullahi (Bayelsa United)
• Isaac Ayuma (NK Istra, Croatia)
• Nasiru Salihu (El-Kanemi Warriors)

Forwards:

• Divine Oliseh (Forster FC)
• Charles Agada (Mavlon FC)
• Kparobo Arierhi (Beyond Limits FC)
• Olalekan Amole (Real Sapphire FC)
• Olalekan Ibrahim (Central Academy)
• Clinton Jephta (Enyimba FC)