Aliyu Zubairu, head coach of Nigeria’s U-20 national football team, the Flying Eagles, has announced a 24-man squad for the upcoming 2025 U-20 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON), set to take place in Egypt from April 27 to May 18.
The squad features a mix of home-based and overseas-based players who have been intensifying their preparations in Abuja ahead of the continental showpiece. Leading the list are first-choice goalkeeper Ifeanyi Harcourt, team captain and defender Daniel Bameyi, midfielder Sulaiman Alabi, and striker Kparobo Arierhi.
Among the notable foreign-based invitees are Emmanuel Chukwu and Precious Benjamin from German club TSG Hoffenheim, as well as Kparobo Arierhi from Lillestrom SK in Norway.
The Flying Eagles, seven-time African champions and two-time runners-up at the FIFA U-20 World Cup, are determined to clinch an eighth continental title. The team will depart for Cairo on Sunday, where they are scheduled to play several warm-up matches before their tournament opener against Tunisia on May 1.
They will subsequently face Morocco on May 4 and wrap up their group stage campaign with a match against Kenya on May 7.
According to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), the top four teams at this year’s AFCON will qualify to represent Africa at the 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)