Head coach of Nigeria’s U-20 men’s national team, the Flying Eagles, Aliyu Zubairu, has announced a 24-player squad for the upcoming U-20 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) set to take place in Egypt from April 27 to May 18, 2025.
The squad features a mix of home-based and foreign-based players currently training in Abuja ahead of the tournament.
Some of the key names include first-choice goalkeeper Ifeanyi Harcourt, team captain and defender Daniel Bameyi, midfielder Sulaiman Alabi, and striker Kparobo Arierhi.
Top overseas-based talents invited include Emmanuel Chukwu and Precious Benjamin from TSG Hoffenheim in Germany, and Kparobo Arierhi from Lillestrom SK in Norway.
The seven-time African champions and two-time U-20 World Cup finalists will depart for Cairo on Sunday. They will play friendly matches in Egypt before opening their campaign against Tunisia on May 1. Their other group matches are against Morocco on May 4 and Kenya on May 7.
The top four teams in the tournament will qualify to represent Africa at the 2025 FIFA U-20 World Cup in Chile, scheduled from September 27 to October 19.
Full Flying Squad
Goalkeepers:
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Ifeanyi Harcourt (Sporting Lagos)
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Rufai Abubakar (Mavlon FC)
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Soliu Ajia Yakub (FK Novi Pazar, Serbia)
Defenders:
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Adamu Maigari (El-Kanemi Warriors)
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Odinaka Okoro (Sporting Lagos)
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Daniel Bameyi (Bayelsa United)
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Emmanuel Chukwu (TSG Hoffenheim, Germany)
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Chigozie Michael Ihejiofor (Katsina United)
Midfielders:
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Caleb Ochedikwu (NK Uljanik Pula, Croatia)
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Israel Isaac Ayuma (NK Istra, Croatia)
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Simon Cletus (Mavlon FC)
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Sulaiman Alabi (El-Kanemi Warriors)
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Auwal Ibrahim (Akwa United)
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Shafiu Duguri (Wikki Tourists)
Forwards:
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Precious Benjamin (TSG Hoffenheim, Germany)
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Ezekiel Anthony Kpangu (Inspire FC)
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Divine Oliseh (Forster Academy)
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Clinton Jephta (Enyimba FC)
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Bidemi Amole (Real Sapphire FC)
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Tahir Maigana (Wireless FC)
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Theophilus Mendos Rickson (Niger Tornadoes)
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Kparobo Nathaniel Arierhi (Lillestrom SK, Norway)
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Matthew Kingsley (Kings FC)
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Yushau Armiyau (Katsina United)
The team hopes to add another title to its impressive U-20 AFCON record and secure a ticket to the World Cup.
