Maikaba Blends Home, Foreign Talents in 35-Man Flying Eagles Squad

Maikaba Blends Home, Foreign Talents in 35-Man Flying Eagles Squad

By BSN Sports 

Newly appointed Flying Eagles head coach Abdu Maikaba has commenced preparations for the WAFU B U-20 Championship after inviting 35 players to camp ahead of the tournament scheduled to take place in Côte d’Ivoire in July, BSNSports.com.ng reports.

The invited players are expected to arrive in Abuja on Saturday as the team begins preparations for the regional competition, which serves as an important platform for youth development and qualification battles within West African football.

Maikaba’s provisional squad features a blend of home-based players and foreign-based prospects, reflecting an effort to combine local talent development with international exposure.

The list includes players from Nigeria Premier Football League sides, lower-division clubs, football academies and overseas teams in Croatia, Spain, Ukraine and the Czech Republic.

Among the notable names invited are Sporting Lagos goalkeeper Clinton Lawani, NK Istra 1961 midfielder Abubakar Rufai from Croatia, and Akwa United’s Uchechukwu Aloysius.

In defence, Spain-based Wahab Bolanle Musa of FC Malaga earned a call-up alongside domestic talents such as Ayinla Olayomi of Warri Wolves and Abubakar Aliyu of Wikki Tourists.

The midfield department includes Kano Pillars’ Imran Ahmad, Sale Abdulrashid of Kryubar FC in Ukraine, and Simon Karshe Cletus of Croatian side FC Rijeka.

In attack, Maikaba appears to have prioritised pace and attacking options, with invitations extended to Katsina United striker Abba Dalli, Spain-based Imrana Mohammed of FC Alaves, and Sporting Lagos forwards Seun Akanji and Alex Leme.

The inclusion of several academy players also highlights the growing importance of grassroots football in Nigeria’s youth-team structure.

Observers will be eager to see the tactical direction and playing identity Maikaba introduces as he begins a new era with the Flying Eagles, with Nigeria aiming to re-establish itself as a dominant force in the WAFU B region and continue producing players capable of excelling at continental and global competitions.

Nigeria remains one of Africa’s most successful youth football nations, with the Flying Eagles winning the Africa U-20 Cup of Nations multiple times and finishing runners-up twice at the FIFA U-20 World Cup.

The upcoming WAFU B Championship in Côte d’Ivoire will provide the first major test of Maikaba’s squad and technical vision.