Kalmar Release Awoniyi For AYC

Swedish club Kalmar have released striker Taiwo Awoniyi for the 2015 African Youth Championship (AYC) in Senegal.

Awoniyi, 18 in August 2015, is one of nine foreign-based professionals called up by Nigeria’s Flying Eagles for the AYC, which kicks off on March 8 in Dakar.

Awoniyi has since joined the Flying Eagles, who resumed training camp in Kaduna at the weekend.

The other foreign-based pro already with the Junior Eagles is skipper Musa Muhammed.

Flying Eagles team secretary, Auwal Aliyu Ibrahim, further disclosed he has also been in constant contact with English Premier League champions Manchester City over the release of Kelechi Iheanacho and Chidiebere Nwakali.

The other overseas stars invited by the Nigeria U20 team are Isaac Success, Musa Yahaya, Moses Simon, Kingsley Madu and Chidera Eze.

Meanwhile, the Flying Eagles now train twice daily at the Ahmadu Bello Stadium in Kaduna.

They are billed to feature in an invitational tournament later in January as part of their build-up for the AYC.

The Flying Eagles will begin their AYC campaign on March 8 against hosts Senegal in Dakar.

They are also drawn in Group A along with Cote d’Ivoire and Congo.