The head coach of Nigeria’s U-20 national football team, Flying Eagles, Aliyu Zubairu, has officially released a 24-man squad for the 2025 U-20 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON), scheduled to take place in Egypt from April 27 to May 18.
Leading the squad is goalkeeper Ifeanyi Harcourt, alongside team captain and defender Daniel Bameyi, key midfielder Sulaiman Alabi, and promising forward Kparobo Arierhi.
The lineup features a strategic mix of home-based and foreign-based talents who have been intensifying preparations in Abuja. Notably, Emmanuel Chukwu and Precious Benjamin from Germany’s TSG Hoffenheim, as well as Kparobo Arierhi of Lillestrom SK in Norway, are part of the team.
The Flying Eagles, known for their impressive track record as seven-time African champions and two-time FIFA U-20 World Cup runners-up, are set to leave Nigeria for Cairo this Sunday. Their goal: to secure an eighth continental title.
Ahead of the tournament, the team will engage in a series of warm-up matches in Egypt before kicking off their group-stage campaign against Tunisia on May 1. Other group matches include a faceoff with Morocco on May 4 and a final group tie with Kenya on May 7.
The top four teams from this year’s U-20 AFCON will qualify to represent Africa at the 2025 FIFA U-20 World Cup in Chile, scheduled for September 27 to October 19.
Full Flying Eagles Squad:
Goalkeepers:
Ifeanyi Ebenezer Harcourt (Sporting Lagos)
Rufai Abubakar (Mavlon FC)
Soliu Ajia Yakub (FK Novi Pazar, Serbia)
Defenders:
Adamu Maigari (El-Kanemi Warriors)
Odinaka Okoro (Sporting Lagos)
Daniel Bameyi (Bayelsa United)
Emmanuel Chukwu (TSG Hoffenheim, Germany)
Chigozie Michael Ihejiofor (Katsina United)
Midfielders:
Caleb Ochedikwu (NK Uljanik Pula, Croatia)
Israel Isaac Ayuma (NK Istra, Croatia)
Simon Cletus (Mavlon FC)
Sulaiman Alabi (El-Kanemi Warriors)
Auwal Ibrahim (Akwa United)
Shafiu Duguri (Wikki Tourists)
Forwards:
Precious Benjamin (TSG Hoffenheim, Germany)
Ezekiel Anthony Kpangu (Inspire FC)
Divine Oliseh (Forster Academy)
Clinton Jephta (Enyimba FC)
Bidemi Amole (Real Sapphire FC)
Tahir Maigana (Wireless FC)
Theophilus Mendos Rickson (Niger Tornadoes)
Kparobo Nathaniel Arierhi (Lillestrom SK, Norway)
Matthew Kingsley (Kings FC)
Yushau Armiyau (Katsina United)
Stay tuned to NIGPOST for more updates as the Flying Eagles gear up to soar in Egypt!
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