Lagos — One of Nigeria's fringe goalkeepers to the 2002 Korea/Japan World Cup, Austin Ejide, was said to have been scared stiff by an unfancied display put up by members of the Under-20 national team in training just before their departure to Cote D' Iviore.

According to a source in the Flying Eagles camp, the goalkeeper who stood between the sticks for Nigeria against Scotland in a pre-World Cup friendly, expressed his fears concerning the poor quality of players in the Under-20 team. He added that Ejide was also worried about his career.

P.M.Sport gathered that while other members of the team were busy thinking of the task ahead, a worried Ejide was regretting the NFA's decision to draft him to the team.

It would be recalled that to beef up the Flying Eagles squad, having lost to their Moroccan counterparts by 1-2 at Port Harcourt in an African Youth Championship (AYC) qualifier, Ejide and a few Super Eagles players were drafted into the team..

Our source, who discussed with the Gabros International first choice goalkeeper, said the 18-year-old also expressed his fears on what the outcome of the second leg encounter will be. He added that Ejide did not find his being in the team funny as he felt it could end up being a disaster for his blossoming career, especially if he failed to get adequate cover from the Flying Eagles defenders.

At present, it appears the NFA and the Sports Ministry are at loggerheads over the inclusion of Ejide and other Super Eagles' players in the Flying Eagles, as the Sports Minister, Stephen Akiga, has recalled the players (Ejide and co) from the Under-20 team that left the country on Wednesday for the 'Battle of Casablanca'.