Flying Eagles coach Aliyu Zubairu has selected 24 players to represent Nigeria at the 2025 Africa Africa U20 Cup of Nations taking place in Egypt from April 27 to May 18.
The team’s captain Daniel Bameyi leads the team alongside first-choice goalkeeper Ifeanyi Harcourt, midfielder Sulaiman Alabi Jojo, and forward Kparobo Arierhi, and 20 other players.
Defenders Adamu Maigari and Emmanuel Chukwu (based in Germany), midfielders Caleb Ochedikwu (based in Croatia) and Simon Cletus, and forwards Clinton Jephta, Divine Oliseh and Precious Benjamin (based in Germany) are also picked.
The seven-time African champions and two-time World Cup runners-up will depart travel to Egypt on Sunday, where they are expected to play a couple of friendly matches before their opening match of the competition against Tunisia in Cairo on Thursday, 1st May.
The captain of the team, Daniel Bameyi has urged his teammates to go for the trophy, while also eyeing a place at the U-20 FIFA World Cup.
He said, “We are preparing to get the World Cup ticket, but we also want to win the cup. But, this is football, and everyone can’t be champions. That’s why we are preparing very hard.
“I’ve been there before, and this time, we are going for the trophy. By so doing, once you win the trophy, you automatically get a World Cup ticket. So, that’s what we are going for.
“We are preparing very hard to win that tournament. We know that no country will be a walkover, so we are preparing to come up against each tough team. This is football. So, we have to expect the unexpected.
“That’s why we are preparing so hard. We are fully motivated, we are together, and we are brothers; but not everybody will make the trip. We are to travel with 21 players but, as far as we are concerned, whether you are dropped or going with the team, we are all together.”
Three days after the clash with the Tunisians, the Flying Eagles will take on Morocco (also in Cairo) before rounding off their group phase experience against Kenya on Wednesday, 7th May.
All four semi-finalists at the tournament in Egypt will fly Africa’s flag at this year’s FIFA U20 World Cup in Chile, 27th September – 19th October.
