As Coach John Obuh names his Flying Eagles squad for the FIFA Under-20 World Cup in Colombia today, the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) has absolved itself of any blame for the failure of three Under20 players, Stanley Okoro, Mohammed Aliyu and Ramon Azeez to get travelling visas to join up with the team in Portugal.

•Flying Eagles celebrating with their African trophy in South Africa.

Acting General Secretary of the NFF, Musa Amadu, made it clear that the three players alongside other members of the team were informed during the African Youth Championship (AYC) in South Africa to make their international passports ready for visas for the Fifa Under20 World Championship preparation.

Amadu added that the players were warned over handing over their travelling documents to football agents in a bid to secure visas to get club contracts.

“We told them to make sure that their passports were made available before the team’s trip to Portugal but we didn’t get them. So the federation had to go ahead with the ones available,” said the federation scribe.

Amadu also said the Nigerian federation would not intervene on behalf of the three players if the Flying Eagles head coach, John Obuh, decide to leave them out of the final 21-man squad for the Under20 World Cup in Colombia that kicks off later this month.

“The NFF shouldn’t be blamed in the event of the three players being left out of the team for the Under20 World Championship by the coach of the team because they have put themselves in this situation,” Amadu offered.

It would be recalled that SuperSport.com had earlier reported that Obuh had reported to the federation that the three players have failed to join the team’s camp for their pre-World Cup plan.

There are indications that the trio will be left out of the final squad for Colombia 2011 when Obuh forwards his team for the World Cup to the NFF on Friday.