Flying Eagles train on Good Friday, drop 3

Abuja – Nigeria U-20 male team, the Flying Eagles, on Good Friday shunned the holiday festivities to train at the practice pitch of the Abuja National Stadium.

A statement by the team’s Media Officer, Samm Audu, said Bernard Bulbwa, Chidera Eze and Ahmed Umar trained outside the main squad as they were nursing injuries.

“Bulbwa has a groin injury, while Eze is nursing a hamstring strain and Umar has a knock on his right knee.

“Chidiebere Nwakali, who also has a knee complaint, took part in all the training drills, but did not feature in the two-a-side game as he has yet to start kicking a football,” the statement said.

It also said that three players had been dropped from the squad preparing for next month’s African Youth Championship qualifier against either Kenya or Tanzania.

“The players are midfielders Uche Okereke and Fidelix Irene as well as goalkeeper Zaradeen Usman,” it said.

There are now 34 players in the team’s training camp in Abuja.

The Flying Eagles will play another test match on Saturday morning against Nigeria Nationwide League (NNWL) side, Dabo Babes of Kano.

The match will kick off at 7 a.m. at the FIFA Goal Project in Abuja. (NAN)