NIGERIA’S Flying Eagles will arrive in Kigali this Saturday, eight days before the African Youth Championships kick off. According to Kickoff.com, the Flying Eagles players and their technical officials, along with administrative officials from the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF), will depart Lagos aboard Ethiopian Airline flight on Friday night and arrive in Addis Ababa early in the morning of Saturday, before connecting another flight to Kigali at noon. The NFF Chief Media Officer Ademola Olajire stated that the team will engage in serious final stage preparations for seven days, before the competition begins on January 18. Head coach, Isah Ladan Bosso is expected to name his final list of 18 players for the championship on Thursday, after today’s (Wednesday) tune-up game against high-riding Premier League club Heartland in Abuja. Meanwhile, Rabiu Ibrahim has been summoned to the Nigerian Squad for African Youth Championship. Sporting Club of Portugal midfielder Rabiu Ibrahim will now join up with the Nigerian squad for the African Youth Championship on Thursday. Ibrahim’s representative, Betram Ekenwa, told Goal.com: “The long-standing stalemate between Sporting and the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) has been resolved after I made both parties to see reason why the player should be released. Nigeria have been battling with European clubs for the release of several of their players for the Under-20 tournament in Rwanda after the clubs insisted the competition is not on the calendar of world soccer governing body, Fifa. Udinese striker Odion Ighalo, for one, is yet to rejoin the squad after his Italian club ordered his return at the weekend.The Flying Eagles are in Group B alongside Egypt, South Africa and Ivory Coast at the eight–nation tournament. Nigeria’s first match is against South Africa on 19 January, followed by a clash with Egypt on 22 January. Ends
