U20 AFCON: Flying Eagles prepare for Egypt encounters

Nigeria’s U20 national team, the Flying Eagles, have resumed camping in Abuja, as they prepare for two important friendly encounters against Egypt ahead of the 2025 Africa U20 Cup of Nations (AFCON).

It was reported that the friendlies are scheduled for Feb. 25 and Feb. 27 in Cairo, Egypt, as the Flying Eagles intensify preparation for the tournament scheduled to hold between April 26 and May 18, in Côte d’Ivoire.

Team Administrator of the team, Aliyu Ibrahim, said in a statement on Tuesday that Head Coach, Aliyu Zubairu, had invited 30 players to camp in preparation for the matches.

Ibrahim stated that Four top-placed finishers from the tournament would qualify to represent the continent at the FIFA U20 World Cup to be hosted by Chile from Sept. 27 to Oct 19.

The Flying Eagles, champions of Africa in 1983, 1985, 1987, 1989, 2005, 2011 and 2015, won the WAFU-B U20 Championship held in Lome, Togo in October, 2024.

Full list of invited players:

Goalkeepers: Ifeanyi Harcourt (Sporting Lagos); Light Emerenonye (Diamond Academy); Abubakar Rufai (Mavlon FC)

Defenders: Adamu Maigari (El-Kanemi Warriors); Daniel Bameyi (Bayelsa United); Kenneth Igbokwe (Enugu Rangers); Haruna Aliyu (Wikki Tourists); Musa Ademu (Wireless FC).

Others are: Shamsudeen Muhammad (Mavlon FC); Ibrahim Abdullahi; Shamsudeen Ishaq (Grassrunner FC); Steven Jolomi (Mavlon FC)

Midfielders: Raphael Oyebanji (Shuffle Select FC); Mohammed Ibrahim (Niger Tornadoes); Kizito Opara (Campus Academy); Alabi Sulaiman Jojo (El-Kanemi Warriors);

Others are: Sulaiman Abubakar (Diamond Academy); Shafiu Adamu (Wikki Tourists); Cletus Simon (Mavlon FC).

Forwards: Bidemi Amole (Real Sapphire Academy); Clinton Japhet (Enyimba FC); Matthew Chukwusa (Morack Academy); Nasiru Salihu (El-Kanemi Warriors); Divine Olisha (Fostar Academy); Jerry Salami (Aspire Academy).

Others are: Oluwaseyi Akinfenwa (Real Sapphire Academy); Shola Adelami (Ikorodu City); Abdulrahaman Ishaq (Sport Supply Academy); Ezekiel Anthony (Aspire Academy); Sodiq Olalekan Adewunmi (Jaguar Sports FC).