Revealed: How ‘politics’ cost Stade Reims 11-goal star Hafiz Ibrahim a place in Nigeria’s U20 World Cup squad

Fresh details have emerged about how Stade Reims forward Hafiz Ibrahim was unfairly dropped from Nigeria’s squad for the 2025 FIFA U-20 World Cup, Soccernet.ng reports.

The former Chelsea target, despite being medically cleared and available for selection, was omitted from the final selection for the global tournament.

Ibrahim garnered attention after his standout at the Viareggio Cup, where he scored 10 goals in six matches. This piqued the interest of top European clubs, who were vying for his signature.

Hafiz Ibrahim Removed From U20 Squad: What Happened?

According to sources close to the Nigeria U-20 camp, Ibrahim, who was one of Nigeria's most promising young strikers in Europe, was initially included in Aliyu Zubairu’s provisional list for the tournament.

The 19-year-old forward had joined the Flying Eagles’ training camp, spent over a week with the team, and underwent all required medical tests, which firmed that he was set to make the final World Cup roster alongside fellow star Daniel Daga.

Watch as Aliyu Zubairu confirms Hafiz Ibrahim's Nigeria U20 call-up:

So, I’m wondering why Stade Reims forward, Hafiz Ibrahim, who was outstanding during the Viareggio Cup, did not make it to the final 2025 U20 World Cup squad.

I mean, our highest goal scorer was a defender, Daniel Bameyi (2 goals).

Politics? Oh yes! pic.twitter.com/7hJCfdrsqZ

— Ayomide Oguntimehin (@ayo_oguntimehin) October 14, 2025

However, as Nigerian “football politics” would have it, Ibrahim was suddenly replaced by another striker just days before the final list was made public.

“They told everyone that his club, [Stade] Reims, didn’t release him — but that was a lie,” a source familiar with the situation told Soccernet.ng. “The club had released him for international duty. He was ready to travel. What happened was pure politics.”

This revelation contradicts earlier reports claiming the French club had refused to let Ibrahim join up with the national team.

Those reports now appear to have been a cover-up to justify his omission, even though the striker had already been cleared by both his club and the Nigerian Football Federation’s medical team.

From Viareggio Cup to Stade de Reims

The former Viareggio Cup standout had signed a four-year deal with Stade de Reims in 2024 and quickly caught attention after scoring 9 goals in 9 matches for the club’s B team.

His performances earned him promotion to the first team, where he made his Ligue 1 debut in February 2025 and later starred in the Coupe de France semi-final, scoring and assisting in a 2–1 win that sent Reims to their first cup final in nearly five decades. Meanwhile, he made it his 11th goal for the club when he scored his first 2025-26 league goal in his 28-minute cameo for Reims.

Why Nigeria U20 Needed Ibrahim

Many believed his inclusion would have strengthened the Flying Eagles’ attack at the World Cup, where Nigeria eventually crashed out in the Round of 16 after a 4–0 defeat to Argentina.

A striker scored no goals throughout the tournament. The highest goal came from a defender and the captain of the team, Daniel Bameyi, with two goals.

While the NFF has yet to comment on the latest revelation, the recurring issue of politics and poor transparency in player selection within Nigerian football has become the new normal in the Nigerian football scene.