Gambia U-17 top striker Ebrima Bojang and defender Abdou  Njie are among the players left out for the Baby Scorpions trip to the 7th edition of Pepsi U-17 International football tournament starting on Wednesday in Nigeria.

The team, which included five new faces, jet out to Lagos yesterday for the six-team tournament that will serve a foretaste of what to expect at the FIFA U-17 World Cup starting on October 25. Also missing from the squad named by Egyptian coach Tarik Siagy shortly after their return from Senegal on Sunday, are Steve Biko pair goalkeeper Famara Bojang and forward Abdoulie Jatta.

Samger forward duo Lamin Sarjo Samateh and Buba Jallow are among the new faces named in the 16-man squad. Africell's goalkeeper Ousman Darboe and Wallidan's Lamin Dibba were also handed their first call-up by the Egyptian tactician.

Coach Siagy could not be reached to explain why the changes, but a source close to the team told Observer Sports that the decision was purely technical. "We just want to give the youngsters a trial. In fact the Nigeria Pepsi tournament is meant for young players. So it is important to give chance to these kids," the source said. Other participating teams in the Nigeria event are Liberty Professionals (Ghana), Pepsi Football Academy One and Two (Nigeria), Lagos U-17 team (Nigeria), Gateway U-17 Youth Team (Nigeria), F.C Johansen Academy (Sierra Leone) and Dimension Foot Academy (Republic of Benin).

Consultant to Pepsi Football Academy, Mr Iain Nelson, said the objective of the competition is to expose the students of the academy to international competition to acquire the confidence of playing high profile matches both locally and internationally. He said trophies and medals would be awarded to the first three teams and Most Valuable Players selected during the matches.

The Gambians who are the current African U-17 champions will use the tournament to perfect their strategy for the World Cup and put their players in top shape for the hostilities in Calabar against Iran, Columbia and the Netherlands in Group C.

The 16 players called-up for Nigeria warm-up tournament are  Musa Camara  (Gamtel) Ousman Darboe (Africell) Lamin Samateh (Biko) Lamin Sarjo Samateh (Samger) Babou Sama (Africell) Lamin Gibba (Wallidan) Baboucarr Jamme (Biko) Baboucarr Savage (Armed Force) Sainey Sambou (Africell) Dawda Ceesay  (Hawks) Pateh Nyan  (Seaview) Demba Janneh  (Biko) Buba Jallow  (Samger) Buba Sama  (Armed Forces) Saihou Gassama  (GPA) Matarr Jobe  (Real de Banjul)