Battle for Flying Eagles striker spots hots up : Crystal Palace's Ademola, Norwich's Coker invited

The battle for the Flying Eagles' striker spots is heating up ahead of the 2023 Africa U20 Cup of Nations which begins in Egypt next month. 

Nigeria U20 boss Ladan Bosso named eleven players classed as strikers on a 35-man training camp roster, including Jude Sunday (Realsaphier FC); Ifesinachi Obiakwu (36 Lions); Adams Olalekan (Remo Stars); Emma Ochegbu (Plateau United); Haliru Sarki (Maikunkele FC); Christogonus Ibe (Chukwuebuka FC); Faruk Salami (Ikorodu City); Segun Otusanoya; Ayuba Francis (Nasarawa United); Promise Bernard (FAME FC) and Shatima Abani (Plateau United).

Bosso has further encouraged competition for spots by calling up some exciting foreign-based youngsters. 

Allnigeriasoccer.com can exclusively report with certainty that two talented attackers on the books of English clubs, Crystal Palace's Ademola Ola-Adebomi and Norwich City's Kenny Coker have been handed invitations by the Nigeria Football Federation ahead of the tournament. 

Ola-Adebomi is also eligible to represent England but has been leaning towards playing international football for Nigeria since he was a schoolboy at Crystal Palace. 

The 2003-born player has been described as a big, powerful,fast and left-footed striker, and has been likened to Chelsea star Romelu Lukaku due to his style of play.

Ola-Adebomi made a splash last season, scoring 19 goals in all competitions for Palace's U18 side, has three goals to his name in this season's Premier League 2, and has also scored in the Premier League Cup and Premier League International Cup. 

Coker has opted to represent Nigeria though he is eligible to play for the United States and England. 

When he made his first team debut for Southend United, aged 16 years and 83 days, he became the third youngest player to represent the club and made four further appearances for the first team before he was snapped up by the Canaries. 

Ladan Bosso has also invited KAA Gent striker Ahmed Abdullahi who needs no introduction as he was part of the Flying Eagles squad to the WAFU B U20 Championship in 2022.

It remains to be seen whether or not the players will be released by the European clubs to join the training camp. 

Ifeanyi Emmanuel 

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