Head coach of Nigeria’s U-20 national team, Aliyu Zubairu, has announced a 24-man squad for the 2025 Africa U-20 Cup of Nations (AFCON) set to hold in Egypt from April 27 to May 18.
The squad features a mix of home-based and foreign-based players, including first-choice goalkeeper Ifeanyi Harcourt of Sporting Lagos, team captain and defender Daniel Bameyi of Bayelsa United, creative midfielder Sulaiman Alabi of El-Kanemi Warriors, and prolific forward Kparobo Arierhi of Norway’s Lillestrom SK.
The Flying Eagles, seven-time African champions and two-time FIFA U-20 World Cup runners-up, are intensifying their preparations in Abuja before departing for Cairo on Sunday. They will engage in a series of warm-up matches in Egypt ahead of their Group B opener against Tunisia on May 1.
Other key fixtures include a match against Morocco on May 4 and a clash with Kenya on May 7. The top four teams from the tournament will secure tickets to represent Africa at the FIFA U-20 World Cup in Chile from September 27 to October 19.
Notable foreign-based inclusions are Emmanuel Chukwu and Precious Benjamin, both of TSG Hoffenheim in Germany, and Croatia-based midfielders Caleb Ochedikwu (NK Uljanik Pula) and Israel Isaac Ayuma (NK Istra).
Full squad includes:
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 (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), 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).
