An agreement has been reached for the Nigeria U20 team to play their Zambian counterparts in a two legged friendly game in Abuja, Owngoalnigeria.com can exclusively reveal.

The game will form part of their preparation for the Africa U20 Cup of Nations in Egypt next month. It will be played on the 27th and 30th of January respectively. It will be the last game the Nigerian team will play before the final list of players the AFCON will be made public.

The Flying Eagles have been drawn to play hosts Egypt, Senegal and Mozambique in Group A of the Africa U20 Cup of Nations taking place 19th February to the 11th of March this year. The Nigerian team are in the second phase of their preparation.

Their opponent Zambia will also be at the tournament, where they will take on Tunisia, Benin Republic and The Gambia in Group C as they go in search of a spot at the FIFA U-20 World Cup.

All four semi finalists will qualify for the World Cup in Indonesia, which will run from the 20th of May to the 11th of June. We gathered the test game was made possible due to the relationship between the FA President of both countries.

Crystal Palace teen sensation Ademola Ola-Adebomi  is clearly putting himself in the picture to lead the line for the Nigeria U20 team at the U20 Africa Cup of Nations in Egypt next month, OwnGoalNigeria.com reports.

The 19 year old showed his efficiency in front of goal with a match winning brace for the U21 side of the English Premier League outfit to help them to a 2-1 win against Brighton. The game was his first start of the season.

He was missing in the squad for the game against Fulham on Monday which ended 2-1 in their favour as he perfects his trip to Nigeria where he will link up with the Nigeria U20 team at their camp in Abuja. In his absence little known Victor Tolulope Oluwatosin Akinwale, who is also of Nigerian descent got both goals.

A source close to Ola-Adebomi messaged Owngoalnigeria.com informing us of the new date the highly rated striker, who played against Manchester United in pre-season will arrive at the camp of the Nigerian team in preparation for the U20 Africa Cup of Nations.

“Hi there I saw you put an article on Ademola Ola-Adebomi. He is expected to join the camp on Monday not this week. Days were slightly changed as he was unable to fly this week but will be there on Monday ready to start”, the message reads.

Head coach of the Nigeria U20 team Ladan Bosso is keen on running the rule on the forward with the role of a top striker still a worrying headache, as they approach the final round of camping ahead of the naming of the squad for the tournament.

The 12-nation tournament will place in the cities of Cairo, Alexandria and Ismailia from 19th February to 11th March.

All four semi-finalists at the championship will fly Africa’s flag at this year’s FIFA U20 World Cup.

As many as 14 players have been sent packing from the camp of the Nigeria U20 team in Abuja ahead of the U20 Africa Cup of Nations in Egypt,  Owngoalnigeria.com understands.

Ladan Bosso trimmed the players to a sizeable number after almost two weeks of training as he steps up preparation for the tournament with a test game against Galadima FC later today at the FIFA Goal Project.

In defence, the coach stuck with his favorite five during the first phase of camping in Dominion Ohaka, Daniel Bamaiyi, Benjamin Franklin, Augustine Njoku and Solomon Agbalaka. Two foreign based defenders in Abel Ogwuche of Swedish side Trelleborgs and Michael Ologo of Turkish side Istanbulspor are expected this week .

Simoiben Football Academy prospect Nicholas Jonathan has forced his way into the team but now faces a huge battle to get into the final squad with the likes of Daniel Daga, Aminu Mohammed, Hamzat Basit, Onuche Ogbelu, Samson Lawal also pushing.

In goal, they now have just three goalkeepers picked by the goalkeeper’s coach Olatunji Baruwa. They are the trio of Nathaniel Nwosu, Chijioke Aniagboso and Jimoh Saheed. Norwich City goalkeeper David Aziaya was axed after yesterday’s session.

His spot will be taken up by teen Arsenal shot stopper Ovie Ejeheri who is expected in camp later this week. Joel Ideho is teammate at Arsenal is also set to make a decision on the call up with the Netherlands pushing him to snub the invitation.

Head coach of the Nigeria U20 team Ladan Bosso has pruned down the number of players in the camp of the team as preparations for the U20 Africa Cup of Nations hots up, OwnGoalNigeria.com reports.

Bosso has been running the rule on several players for the past two weeks and every week , trims down the number in his camp who are most times substituted by others. The coach says his method is elimination by substitution.

The latest set of players sent packing from the camp is to make way for the expected arrival of the invited foreign based players, who will be assessed before the final list of players is made public by the end of next month.

In the camp, the team now has three goakeepers in Nathaniel Nwosu, Chijioke Aniagboso and Jimoh Saheed. Norwich City goalkeeper David Aziaya has been asked to return back to his base. His case was more of lacking in sharpness due to an unspecified ailment he picked up upon arriving the camp of the team.

In attack, the biggest casualty was NK Jarun striker Wisdom Ubani. The 19 year old was once upon a time viewed as a potential world beater but hasn’t really got going and his bid to relaunch himself with the U20 has ended in disappointment.

He was among the players, who are around 12 in number to be shown the exit door by Bosso. Their exit from the camp alongside the rest has created space for the arrival of six more players led by Abel Ogwuche of Swedish side Trelleborgs. Michael Ologo of Turkey top division side Istanbulspor is also expected this week.

The chances of former Ajax winger Joel Ideho honouring the call up extended to him by coach of the Nigeria U20 team Ladan Bosso has suffered a set back, OwnGoalNigeria.com can exclusively reveal.

Ideho who joined Arsenal two years ago is seen as the next big thing out of the academy of the Gunners and he has already trained with the first team severally. As a matter of fact his ability to score from range has further enhanced his reputation.

Born in the Netherlands to Nigerian parents, coach of the Nigeria U20 team Ladan Bosso handed him a call up to be a part of the squad presently in Abuja shaping up for the Africa U20 Cup of Nations, which will take place in Egypt next month.

News of his invitation got to the Netherlands and it has triggered a very negative response from his camp with his representatives not keen on the 19 year old honoring the call up. The idea is that he is better off playing with the Dutch youth team.

They believe he will be a part of the Dutch setup very soon hence shouldn’t rush the decision of accepting the call up. A decision has not been reached but he won’t be considered by Bosso if he fails to arrive in the camp of the team by next weekend.