Youth national team, Flying Eagles’ coach, Paul Aigbogun will have to leave out Villarreal of Spain revelation, Samuel Chukwueze from his plans for next year’s African U-20 Cup of Nations in Niger Republic.
Sports247.ng gathered that Aigbogun will not be opportune to call up Chuwueze, because officials at Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) want the former Enyimba of Aba coach to give untested players spots.
A credible source at The Glasshouse revealed that, that the officials believe it is not proper to call-up the already exposed Chukwueze, who won Chile 2015 FIFA U-17 World Cup with the Golden Eaglets and in the follow-up unsuccessful Flying Eagles’ squad of 2016.
Instead of allowing Chukwueze play in the youth squad, the source said he should be reserved for the under-23 national team and the Super Eagles, to which he was recently invited for this month’s matches against South Africa and Uganda.
Chukwueze scored his first goal for Villarreal in a 3-3 draw against Almeria in Copa Del Rey two days after he was invited to the Eagles, but the 19-year-old lad tops Aigbogun’s list for the U20 AFCON.
However, Aigbogun will now have to start making other plans and think of an alternative player to invite in Chukwueze’s place next year, as the NFF insist they will not allow the rising star in his team.
An official stressed: “Chukwueze won’t be a part of the U20s. The plan is to have him in the Super Eagles and the Olympic team.
“There is no point calling him to the U20s, as he will somehow hinder the discovery of other talents.”
