Akwa United goalkeeper Uchechukwu Aloysius has been called up to the Flying Eagles squad for the upcoming WAFU B U20 Championship in Cote d'Ivoire in July. The invitation follows a standout season with Akwa United in the Nigeria National League, where Aloysius played a pivotal role as the team narrowly missed promotion to the Nigeria Premier Football League. His consistent performances earned him multiple NNL Goalkeeper of the Month awards during the campaign. The club publicly celebrated his call-up, calling it a well-deserved recognition of his hard work and skill.
Flying Eagles head coach Abdu Maikaba has summoned 35 players to begin preparations for the regional tournament. The camp is set to open in Abuja on Saturday, May 16. Aloysius is one of three goalkeepers selected, alongside Clinton Lawani of Sporting Lagos and Abubakar Rufai, who plays for NK-Istra 1961 in Croatia. Other notable inclusions are midfielders Sale Abdulrashid of Kryubar FC in Ukraine and Imrana Mohammed, who is with FC Alaves in Spain. Defenders Wahab Bolanle Musa of FC Malaga in Spain and Mutari Momoh of NK-Istra 1961 also made the list.
The Flying Eagles squad features players from both domestic clubs and foreign-based teams. Several invitees come from Nigeria's lower-tier clubs, including Morak FC, Barau FC, and P Sports. The 35-man list includes forwards Abba Dalli of Katsina United and Alex Leme of Sporting Lagos. Midfielder Simon Karshe Cletus, currently with FC Rijeka in Croatia, is also in the mix. The final squad for the WAFU B U20 Championship will be trimmed from this provisional list after camp assessments.
Aloysius earned a national call-up after missing promotion with Akwa United, proving that individual recognition can emerge from team disappointment. His inclusion shows the Flying Eagles setup is scouting beyond the top flight, tapping talent from the NNL. Aloysius now has the chance to turn a near-miss at club level into a breakthrough on the international stage.
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