With less than four weeks to the kickoff of the FIFA U20 World Cup in Chile, Flying Eagles coach Aliyu Zubairu has provided an update on Nigeria's build-up to the tournament.

Zubairu acknowledged that preparations have been somewhat slow, largely due to the absence of key foreign-based players. 

He confirmed that Daniel Daga, Sulaiman Sani, and Hafiz are yet to report to camp, though he expressed satisfaction with the progress made by those already in training.

"Not all of them are here now. We’re still expecting like two or three — Daga, Hafiz and Sulaiman Sani — but nonetheless those that are here are adapting to what we are doing,” Zubairu said. 

"Some of them have only been around for three days, but from what we’ve seen, they are picking up quickly. 

"Others have been here for almost a week. At the end of the day, performance will determine who makes the final cut."

The coach described the current camp as highly competitive, featuring a mix of players who represented Nigeria at the WAFU and AFCON tournaments alongside fresh faces from the Nigeria Professional Football League (NPFL), the Nigeria National League (NNL), and various overseas clubs.

Nigeria have been drawn in Group F of the World Cup, where they will face Colombia, Saudi Arabia, and Norway. 

With a strong tradition in youth football, the Flying Eagles will be aiming to surpass their previous achievements and reinforce the country’s reputation as one of the powerhouses of the U20 game.

Adeyemi Adewale

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