
Nigeria’s Flying Eagles are primed for battle as Head Coach Aliyu Zubairu announces his 24-man squad for the upcoming 2025 U-20 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON), set to kick off in Egypt in just 10 days.
The team list is headlined by captain and defender Daniel Bameyi, dependable goalkeeper Ifeanyi Harcourt, midfield dynamo Sulaiman Alabi Jojo, and in-form striker Kparobo Arierhi. Also making the cut are German-based defenders Adamu Maigari and Emmanuel Chukwu, Croatian-based midfielders Caleb Ochedikwu and Israel Isaac Ayuma, and versatile attackers Clinton Jephta, Divine Oliseh, and Precious Benjamin.
The Flying Eagles, who are seven-time African champions and two-time U-20 World Cup runners-up, will depart for Egypt on Sunday. They’re scheduled to engage in preparatory friendlies before opening their group stage campaign against Tunisia on May 1 in Cairo.
Nigeria’s second group match comes three days later against Morocco, before wrapping up the preliminary stage with a tie against Kenya on May 7. The four semifinalists from the competition will qualify for the 2025 FIFA U-20 World Cup in Chile, slated for September 27 to October 19.
The full squad includes:
Goalkeepers: Ifeanyi Harcourt (Sporting Lagos), Rufai Abubakar (Mavlon FC), Soliu Ajia Yakub (FK Novi Pazar, Serbia)
Defenders: Daniel Bameyi (Bayelsa United), Adamu Maigari (El-Kanemi Warriors), Emmanuel Chukwu (TSG Hoffenheim, Germany), Odinaka Okoro (Sporting Lagos), Chigozie Ihejiofor (Katsina United)
Midfielders: Sulaiman Alabi Jojo (El-Kanemi Warriors), Caleb Ochedikwu (NK Uljanik Pula, Croatia), Israel Ayuma (NK Istra, Croatia), Simon Cletus (Mavlon FC), Auwal Ibrahim (Akwa United), Shafiu Duguri (Wikki Tourists)
Forwards: Kparobo Arierhi (Lillestrom SK, Norway), Clinton Jephta (Enyimba FC), Precious Benjamin (TSG Hoffenheim, Germany), Divine Oliseh (Forster Academy), Bidemi Amole (Real Sapphire), Ezekiel Kpangu (Inspire FC), Tahir Maigana (Wireless FC), Theophilus Rickson (Niger Tornadoes), Matthew Kingsley (Kings FC), Yushau Armiyau (Katsina United)
The squad blends local talent with European-based stars, setting the stage for what promises to be a compelling campaign on the continent.