Flying Eagles head coach, Aliyu Zubairu, has unveiled a 24-man squad for the upcoming Africa U20 Cup of Nations in Egypt, with Sporting Lagos shot-stopper Ifeanyi Ebenezer Harcourt named as the team’s first-choice goalkeeper.
Also included in the squad are team captain and defender Daniel Bameyi, midfield general Sulaiman Alabi Jojo, and prolific attacker Kparobo Nathaniel Arierhi.
The continental tournament, held biennially, is set to kick off in 10 days.
Among the selected players are defenders Adamu Maigari and Germany-based Emmanuel Chukwu; midfielders Caleb Ochedikwu, who plies his trade in Croatia, and Simon Cletus; as well as forwards Clinton Jephta, Divine Oliseh, and Germany-based Precious Benjamin.
The Flying Eagles, seven-time African champions and two-time FIFA U20 World Cup runners-up, are scheduled to leave Nigeria for Egypt on Sunday.
In preparation for the tournament, the squad is expected to play a couple of warm-up matches before facing Tunisia in their group opener on Thursday, May 1st, in Cairo.
Their second group match comes three days later, as they go up against Morocco, also in the Egyptian capital.
The group stage wraps up with a clash against Kenya on Wednesday, May 7th.
The four teams that reach the semi-finals will earn the right to represent Africa at the FIFA U20 World Cup in Chile, scheduled for September 27 to October 19 2025.
Full Squad List:
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)
