With names like Kelechi Iheanacho, Wilfried Ndidi and Musa Yahaya missing from the final list of players to the Africa Youth Championship, Flying Eagles coach, Manu Garba says he has chosen only the best players at his disposal.

Garba explained that the 21 players selected were the best he could have chosen from the available lot.. “We have always

Manu Garba, head coach of Nigeria ponders during the FIFA U17 group F match between Sweden and Nigeria at Khalifa Bin Zayed Stadium on October 22, 2013 in Al Ain, United Arab Emirates. Photo by FIFA

said that only the best players would be selected and that is what we have done,” he said.

“It is quite unfortunate that we do not have the likes of Iheanacho and Wilfried Ndidi but we have confidence on the abilities of the players we have at the moment.

“And when you have very good players, you can only choose the best out of them and that is what we have done for the Africa Youth Championship.”

The Flying Eagles coach however admitted that they will miss some of the players that have failed to make the team, but maintained that the selected players can also get the job done.

“We surely will miss them, like Musa Yahaya, Kelechi Iheanacho and Wilfried Ndidi but we must focus on what we have.

“Hopefully if we qualify for the World Cup then they will join us,” Manu said.

Iheanacho and Yahaya failed to make the team due to injuries, while the NFF have failed to secure the release of Ndidi from Belgian club, Genk.