Manu Garba Names 35-Man Provisional World Cup Squad

Flying Eagles head coach Manu Garba has announced his 35-man squad for the 2015 FIFA U20 World Cup.


Energetic defender and captain Musa Muhammed tops the list that has four goalkeepers, 10 defenders, 10 midfielders and 11 strikers.

As expected, Kelechi Iheanacho, Musa Yahaya, Isaac Success, Chidiebere Nwakali, Godwin Saviour, Wilfred Ndidi, who all weren't part of the team to the 2015 Orange Africa Youth Championship in Senegal, were all recalled.

Others listed are Joshua Enaholo, Olorunleke Ojo, Dele Alampasu, Mustapha Abdullahi, Izuchukwu Omego, Abdulganiyu Saheed, Zaharadeen Bello, Ifeanyi Ifeanyi, Obinna Nwobodo, Ifeanyi Matthew, Chidera Ezeh, Taiwo Awoniyi and Bernard Bulbwa.

Fair skinned striker Christian Pyagbara and Ebony Award contender Simon Moses are the only players in the squad who will be gunning for their second consecutive World Cup finals after both featured at the 2013 U20 World Cup.

All 35 players are expected to report at the Serob Legacy Hotel, Abuja on Sunday, 12th April for the first phase of the preparations.

The Flying Eagles are in group E of the U20 World Cup, alongside Brazil, Hungary, and North Korea.

Nigeria's provisional 35-man roster:

Goalkeepers: Adamu Abubakar (Flash FC); Dele Alampasu (Football College Academy); Joshua Enaholo (MFM FC); Olorunleke Ojo (Giwa FC)

Defenders: Musa Muhammed (FC Heart Academy); Saheed Abdul-Ganiyu (Ace Academy); Adebayo Ademilua (Nath Boys); Monsuru Bashiru (MFM FC); Zaharaddeen Bello (Dabo Babes Academy); Abdullahi Mustapaha (Spotlight FC); Wilfred Ndidi (KRC Genk, Belgium); Samuel Okon (Greater Tomorrow Academy); Izuchukwu Omego (Apapa Golden Stars); Rowland Silas (Airforce FC)

Midfielders: Abdullahi Alfa (Football College Academy); Bernard Bulbwa (Esperance FC, Tunisia); Akinjide Idowu (Nigeria Young Academy); Ifeanyi Ifeanyi (Water FC); Wasiu Jimoh (Kwara Academy); Ifeanyi Mathew (El-Kanemi Warriors); Chidebere Nwakali (Manchester City, England); Obinna Nwobodo (Enugu Rangers); Kingsley Sokari (Enyimba FC); Musa Yahaya (Tottenham Hotspurs, England)

Forwards: Alhassan Abdullahi (FC Heart); Taiwo Awoniyi (Imperial Academy); Chidera Ezeh (FC Porto, Portugal); Okechukwu Gabriel (Water FC); Saviour Godwin (FC Sports); Kelechi Iheanacho (Manchester City, England); Success Isaac (Granada FC, Spain); Billy Michael (El-Cruzeiro FC); Christian Pyagbara (Dolphins FC); Usman Sani Sale (Wikki Tourists); Moses Simon (Kaa Gent, Belgium)