Nigeria’s U20 national team, the Flying Eagles, have resumed training in Abuja as they prepare for two crucial friendly matches against Egypt ahead of the 2025 Africa U20 Cup of Nations.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the friendlies are set for February 25 and 27 in Cairo, Egypt, as the team intensifies preparations for the tournament, which will take place from 26 April to 18 May in Côte d’Ivoire.
Team Administrator Aliyu Ibrahim stated on Tuesday that Head Coach Aliyu Zubairu had called up 30 players to camp in preparation for the matches.
Ibrahim added that the top four teams from the tournament would qualify to represent Africa at the FIFA U20 World Cup, set to be hosted by Chile from September 27 to October 19.
The Flying Eagles, champions of Africa in 1983, 1985, 1987, 1989, 2005, 2011, and 2015, won the WAFU-B U20 Championship held in Lomé, Togo, in October 2024.
Full list of invited players:
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, 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)
