Leaving Kelechi Iheanacho out won't hurt me- Manu Garba

Tomiwa Babalola

Flying Eagles Coach, Manu Garba has insisted that the national U-20 team are not going to miss Manchester City youngster, Kelechi Iheanacho and Musa Yahaya at the CAF U-20 African Youth Championship in Senegal.

The Manu Garba-led side, who departed the Murtala Mohammed International Airport on Wednesday night in a connecting flight to Gambia before then joining another to Senegal left some of the U-17 winning team members due to different excuses.

Garba disclosed that the players in question must prove that they really want to be a part of the team by fighting for their positions as those who made the team are equally very good. 

"Musa Yahaya was not our injury concern prior to the release of the 21-man list. Kelechi Iheanacho, Success Isaac, Wilfried Ndidi; who’s still hanging on. These lads certainly do have a role to play in the team but they must prove that to us again because the present players in the team are pretty good and it wouldn't affect the psychic of the team we have now.

"We played some fantastic test matches going into the tournament and this goes to show that we’re very prepared for the AYC

"With the quality I have seen and the job we’ve succeeded in carrying out, I believe we have what it takes to make this Country proud,” Garba told footballlive

The FIFA U-17 world cup winning coach expressed confidence in the team in reference to their preparations towards this championship kicking off on Sunday with Nigeria playing the host country, Senegal.

Is Manu Garba right to leave Iheanacho and others out the U-20 team?