FLYING EAGLES MAY TRAIN IN UYO

Nigeria U20 team, the Flying Eagles, are most likely to train in Uyo ahead of their 2015 AYC qualifiers in May, officials said.

“It is very likely we will set up a training camp in Uyo, Akwa Ibom State for our qualifiers in the first week of May,” said Flying Eagles coach Manu Garba.

“Calabar, where we trained with the Golden Eaglets, will not be available as they are preparing for the National Sports Festival later in the year.”

Akwa Ibom State Government is close to approving the training camp for the six-time African champions.

The team will in the new week continue the opening screening they embarked on from March 2.

They are 31 players retained from the exercise – 14 uninvited players, while 17 were from those originally called up.

The coach has said he has been satisfied with the quality of talent he has seen so far.

The next phase of training camp will involve a pool of players who for one reason or the other were not eligible for the U17 African Nations Cup and World Cup.

Manu has said he hopes to soon build a standing team while being mindful that this is a much higher level than the U17 level as many players at the U20 cadre have already been capped at full international level by their countries.