Flying Eagles head coach Abdul Maikaba says talented players from the Nationwide League One (NLO) will continue to receive opportunities to earn places in Nigeria’s U-20 national team setup.
Maikaba made the statement while visiting the Area 3 centre of the ongoing 2026 NLO season in Abuja, where he watched matches and assessed emerging talents.
The newly appointed coach, who recently unveiled a 35-player provisional squad for the Flying Eagles, explained that the timing of the NLO season made it difficult to include more grassroots players before the team began camping.
According to him, the release of the initial squad list does not rule out the possibility of additional invitations for outstanding players discovered during scouting exercises.
He stated that any player who demonstrates exceptional quality would still have the chance to fight for a place in the national team.
Maikaba revealed that he has been travelling across different parts of the country to observe matches and identify young footballers capable of representing Nigeria at the U-20 level.
He said he had already monitored games in Kano, Akwa Ibom, Lagos, and Abuja, adding that he wished he had more time to visit additional centres because of the abundance of talent in the league.
The coach praised the standard of competition in the grassroots division, noting that he was particularly impressed by the performances at the Area 3 centre in Abuja.
He singled out Galadima FC midfielder Samson Joshua, jersey number 14, as one of the standout performers and confirmed that the player would be given an opportunity to compete for a place in the Flying Eagles squad.
Maikaba also pointed out that a large number of players eligible for the U-20 category are currently playing in the NLO rather than in the Nigeria Premier Football League (NPFL).
He explained that if the grassroots league had commenced earlier, more players from the division would likely have been included in his preliminary squad.
The coach further disclosed that he monitored the Nigeria National League (NNL) Super 4 competition, where he identified several promising players from Sporting Lagos FC.
According to him, four players from the club were selected because they met the age requirements and displayed strong quality on the pitch.
Speaking on the team’s objectives, Maikaba said the immediate focus is securing qualification for both the WAFU tournament and the Africa U-20 Cup of Nations.
He added that once qualification is achieved, attention would shift toward preparing for the FIFA U-20 World Cup.
Maikaba also expressed his desire to surpass the achievements of former Flying Eagles coach Samson Siasia, who guided Nigeria to a silver medal finish at the FIFA U-20 World Cup.
He admitted the task would be challenging due to limited preparation time but insisted that the country possesses enough talent to compete at the highest level.
The Flying Eagles coach reaffirmed his commitment to rewarding deserving NLO players with national team opportunities whenever they prove their ability and readiness.