Head coach of Nigeria's U17 national team, Manu Garba, has extended invitations to three players from the Gombe U-17 Selected side to join the Golden Eaglets camp after impressing during a series of friendly matches in Abuja.

The players are Meshek Lamelah of Gombe United feeder team, Abdulrahman Baba (popularly known as China) of Doma United, and Abdullahi M. Bello of Mailantarki Care FC.

The trio caught the attention of the Golden Eaglets gaffer during high-profile test games against top academies and the national cadet side.

The Gombe U-17 Selected team comprising talents drawn from the 65 clubs currently competing in the Gombe State League One toured Abuja on the sponsorship of Hon. Khamisu Ahmed Mailantarki.

On the trip, they narrowly lost 1-2 to Virtual Football Academy, bounced back with a 2-1 victory over Mailantarki Care FC, and held the Golden Eaglets to a goalless draw.

Coach Manu, impressed by their spirited display, handpicked the three youngsters for further assessment, though their participation remains subject to the mandatory MRI age-verification test, which Hon. Mailantarki has pledged to sponsor.

Chairman of the Gombe State Football Association, Yakubu Sarma, who coordinated the tour, commended Mailantarki for bankrolling the trip and lauded Coach Manu for opening the door of opportunity to Gombe players.

"The exposure these players have received is invaluable, and we are optimistic they will make Gombe and Nigeria proud," Sarma said.

The Abuja tour was led by Gombe United Team Manager, Ishaya Usman, with technical support from coaches Mustapher Babadidi, Nura Labaran, and Auwal Kawuwa (David).