Arsenal winger gives reasons for being omitted from Flying Eagles WC squad, what the coaches told him 

It is confirmed that Arsenal starlet Joel Ideho was in high spirits on Thursday despite his omission from the Flying Eagles' final 21-man squad heading to Argentina for the 2023 FIFA U20 World Cup.

The flamboyant winger had been tipped to be the X-factor player for the Flying Eagles at the World Cup, but an ankle injury he has been nursing for more than one month put paid to his hopes of being provisionally cap-tied to Nigeria for now.

Ideho considered pulling out of the Flying Eagles squad as he was aware that he was not in tiptop condition but him mom managed to convince him to travel to Abuja. 

The injury meant that he could barely train with the rest of the invited players after he reported for international duty this week.

"I came late to camp because I was with Arsenal and I was still injured. Also, I had to get the green light from Arsenal before traveling. I still came injured," Ideho told allnigeriasoccer.com.

"My mom wanted me to travel but I didn't want to because I am still injured. I am not yet one hundred percent. 

"I trained twice with the Flying Eagles after I joined them but not serious training. I couldn't play any of the friendly matches.

"The Flying Eagles coaches told me I was dropped because of my injury and I came late to camp."

Nigeria U20 manager Ladan Bosso considered naming Ideho in the squad list for the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations but dropped the plan when he realized that the winger's passport expired in 2018.

Ifeanyi Emmanuel 

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