Head coach of Nigeria’s U-20 national football team, the Flying Eagles, Aliyu Zubairu, has released the final list of 24 players set to represent the country at the 2025 U-20 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) in Egypt.
According to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), the continental tournament is scheduled to run from April 27 to May 18.
Leading the squad are key players including first-choice goalkeeper Ifeanyi Harcourt, team captain and defender Daniel Bameyi, midfield anchor Sulaiman Alabi, and striker Kparobo Arierhi.
The selected team is expected to begin final preparations ahead of their departure for Egypt, where they will compete for the title against the continent’s top youth team
The squad is a blend of home-based and foreign players who have intensified training in Abuja ahead of the tournament.
Some of the top foreign-based players invited include: Emmanuel Chukwu, Precious Benjamin, all of German outfit TSG Hoffenheim and Kparobo Arierhi (Lillestrom SK, Norway).
The Flying Eagles, who are seven-time African champions and two-time FIFA Under-20 World Cup runners-up, will depart Nigeria on Sunday for Cairo in a bid to clinch an eighth continental title.
The team is scheduled to play a series of warm-up matches in Egypt before their group opener against Tunisia on May 1.
They will then face Morocco on May 4, followed by a clash against Kenya on May 7 to wrap up the group games.
NAN reports that the top four teams from the tournament will qualify to represent Africa at the FIFA Under-20 World Cup in Chile, slated for Sept. 27 to Oct. 19.
Full Squad, 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).
Others are; Emmanuel Chukwu (TSG 1899 Hoffenheim, Germany); Chigozie Michael Ihejiofor (Katsina United).
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Midfielders: Caleb Ochedikwu (NK Uljanik Pula, Croatia); Israel Isaac Ayuma (NK Istra, Croatia); Simon Cletus (Mavlon FC).
Others are; Sulaiman Alabi (El-Kanemi Warriors); Auwal Ibrahim (Akwa United); Shafiu Duguri (Wikki Tourists)
Forwards: Precious Benjamin (TSG 1899 Hoffenheim, Germany); Ezekiel Anthony Kpangu (Inspire FC); Divine Oliseh (Forster Academy); Clinton Jephta (Enyimba FC);
Others are; 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).
(NAN)
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