Enyimba of Aba winger, Wasiu Alalade and former Plateau United of Jos winger, Peter Eneji have both been left out of the final squad list of the Nigerian youth national team, Flying Eagles for the African U-20 Cup of Nations in Niger Republic.
Alalade has been left out of the squad list, despite being the side’s top goals scorer all through last year, while Eneji, who was part of Plateau’s league winning squad of 2016 and the home-based Eagles at CHAN 2018, failed to make the cut despite now being based abroad.
Sports247.ng reports that Alalade was the Flying Eagles’ leading goal netter during their campaign in the Africa U-20 Cup of Nations qualifiers, but coach of the side, Paul Aigbogun has surprisingly left the youngster out of his squad for the championship proper.
Dramatically, while Aigbogun has included several of his loyal lads, who were part of the qualifiers and helped him win silver at the West Africa Football Union (WAFU) U-20 Cup in Lome, Togo last month, the ex-Enyimba gaffer has dropped one of his reliables for club and country.
Speculation is now rising about a falling out between Aigbogun and Alalade, with insinuations about personal issues also affecting the lad, who was never found wanting during his time in the under-20 squad.
Same goes for Eneji, who now plays for SK Trencin of Slovakia, but he is yet to debut for the club’s first team and is said to have shown a lot of lukewarm reactions and low morale during his days in training with the under-20 squad at their camp in Abuja.
While Alalade and Eneji are left out of the roster to Niger Republic 2019, WAFU Cup revelation and new found goalkeeper, Olawale Oremade makes the final squad, alongside Valentine Uzornwafor, Ibrahim Babawo, Saludeen Aliu and Maxwell Effiom.
Alalade, who scored four goals in the Flying Eagles’ surge to Niger 2019, has found his spot taken over by former under-17 invitee, Aliyu ‘Bravo’ Ibrahim, with ex-Germany-based midfielder, Peter Eletu also included.
Aigbogun has also included three goalkeepers Detan Ogundare, Akpan Udoh and Olawale Oremade, as well as Mike Zaruma in defence, the trio of brilliant midfielders Peter Eletu, Quadri Liameed and Aniekeme Okon, as well as enterprising forwards Adeshina Gata and Ibrahim Abubakar.
