Flying Eagles coach, Paul Aigbogun will not have the pleasure of two England Premier League rising stars in his squad for next month’s West African Football Union (WAFU) U-20 Cup in Lome, Togo, as Manchester City’s Ayotomiwa ‘Tom’ Dele-Bashiru and Watford’s Jayden Bennets have both withdrawn from his squad.
Footballlive.ng gathered that Aigbogun had been relying on Dele-Bashiru and Bennets to beef up his squad, alongside some other young foreign-based kids, but the former Enyimba of Aba and Warri Wolves handler will now have to start making new plans.
Such it has to be, following reports that Dele-Bashiru, who has already played for England at under-16 level in 2014, has been blocked from honouring Aigbogun’s call by his club.
Footballlive.ng gathered further that The Citizens wrote officially to Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) to inform the body that Dele-Bashiru will not be able to honour Aigbogun’s call due to club commitments.
Similarly, Watford’s 17-year-old Bennets is alos out of Aigbogun’s squad, despite initially having agreed to represent Nigeria ahead of Germany, his mother’s country, and his own nation of birth, England.
Bennets will also not be in Lome, after The Hornets changed their mind on allowing his attend the regional competition, due to club duties; but assured that he will be available for Aigbogun at the Africa U20 Cup of Nations next year in Niger Republic.
On the other hand, Sweden-based striker, Pascal Onyekachi Durugbor is the only foreign-based player at Aigbogun’s camp in Abuja and is expected to be one of his key players at the competition next month.
The 18-year-old Durugbor, who lines out for Vaxjo United in the third division, has impressed Aigbogun with his knack for scoring goals and is said be in top form during training in preparation for the WAFU U20 Cup.
