Head coach Aliyu Zubairu has invited 30 players to camp as Nigeria’s U20 team, the Flying Eagles, prepare for a two-match tour of Egypt later this month.
The Flying Eagles will face Egypt’s U20 team in two friendly matches on February 25 and 27 as part of their buildup for the 2025 U20 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) in Côte d’Ivoire.
According to Team Administrator Aliyu Lawal Ibrahim, both games will take place in Cairo, Egypt’s capital.
Flying Eagles Continue U20 AFCON Preparations
Nigeria U20 MNT head Coach, Aliyu Zubairu. Photo | NFF
Nigeria qualified for the U20 AFCON after winning the WAFU B U20 Championship back-to-back.
Coach Zubairu and his technical team have already begun training, with the squad holding its first session on Monday at the FIFA Goal Project, Package B, Moshood Abiola Stadium, Abuja. Double training sessions followed on Tuesday morning and afternoon.
The 2025 U20 AFCON is scheduled for April 26 – May 18 in Côte d’Ivoire.
The Flying Eagles are champions of Africa in 1983, 1985, 1987, 1989, 2005, 2011, and 2015, making them one of the most successful teams in the tournament’s history.
Full 30-Man Flying Eagles Squad
Goalkeepers
Ifeanyi Harcourt (Sporting Lagos), Light Emerenonye (Diamond Academy), Abubakar Rufai (Mavlon FC)
Defenders
Adamu Maigari (El-Kanemi Warriors),Daniel Bameyi (Bayelsa United), Kenneth Igbokwe (Enugu Rangers),Haruna Aliyu (Wikki Tourists), Musa Ademu (Wireless FC), Shamsudeen Muhammad (Mavlon FC), Ibrahim Abdullahi (Unknown Club), Shamsudeen Ishaq (Grassrunner FC), Steven Jolomi (Mavlon FC)
Midfielders
Raphael Oyebanji (Shuffle Select FC), Mohammed Ibrahim (Niger Tornadoes), Kizito Opara (Campus Academy), Alabi Sulaiman Jojo (El-Kanemi Warriors), Sulaiman Abubakar (Diamond Academy), Shafiu Adamu (Wikki Tourists), Cletus Simon (Mavlon FC)
Forwards
Bidemi Amole (Real Sapphire Academy),Clinton Japhet (Enyimba FC),Matthew Chukwusa (Morack Academy), Nasiru Salihu (El-Kanemi Warriors), Divine Olisha (Fostar Academy), Jerry Salami (Aspire Academy),Oluwaseyi Akinfenwa (Real Sapphire Academy), Shola Adelami (Ikorodu City),Abdulrahaman Ishaq (Sport Supply Academy),Ezekiel Anthony (Aspire Academy), Sodiq Olalekan Adewunmi (Jaguar Sports FC)
CAF Yet to Conduct U20 AFCON Draw
CAF has yet to conduct the official tournament draw for the 2025 U20 AFCON. Senegal are the defending champions, but the Flying Eagles will aim to reclaim the title and assert their dominance on the continent.
The tournament will also determine Africa’s four representatives for the FIFA U20 World Cup in Chile. The four semi-finalists will automatically qualify for the global event.
