Head Coach Aliyu Zubairu has unveiled a 24-man squad for the upcoming Africa U20 Cup of Nations, set to kick off in Egypt in 10 days. Leading the Flying Eagles are first-choice goalkeeper Ifeanyi Harcourt, team captain and defender Daniel Bameyi, dynamic midfielder Sulaiman Alabi Jojo, and forward Kparobo Arierhi.
The squad also features defenders Adamu Maigari and Germany-based Emmanuel Chukwu; midfielders Simon Cletus and Croatia-based Caleb Ochedikwu; and forwards Clinton Jephta, Divine Oliseh, and Germany-based Precious Benjamin.
Nigeria, a seven-time African champion and two-time U20 World Cup finalist, will depart for Egypt on Sunday. Ahead of the tournament, the team is scheduled to play a series of warm-up matches before opening their campaign against Tunisia on Thursday, May 1 in Cairo.
The Flying Eagles will then face Morocco on Sunday, May 4, followed by their final group stage match against Kenya on Wednesday, May 7—both matches also set for Cairo.
All four semi-finalists from the tournament will earn a ticket to represent Africa at the 2025 FIFA U20 World Cup in Chile, slated for September 27 to October 19.
24 FLYING EAGLES FOR EGYPT 2025:
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 1899 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 Jojo (El-Kanemi Warriors); Auwal Ibrahim (Akwa United); Shafiu Adamu Duguri (Wikki Tourists)
Forwards: Precious Benjamin (TSG 1899 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).
