Coach Aliyu Zubairu has made wholesome changes to the Flying Eagles for the U20 AFCON in Egypt after only nine players from the squad to the WAFU B triumph in Togo made the final cut.
The players retained were first-choice goalkeeper Ebenezer Harcourt, defenders Adamu Maigari, Daniel Bameiyi as well as midfielders Israel Ayuma and Sulaiman Alabi ‘Jojo’.
In attack, Kparobo Arierhi, Divine Oliseh, Clinton Jephta and Bidemi Amole survived the purge.
El Kanemi Warriors midfielder Nasiru Salihu, Kenneth Igbokwe from Enugu Rangers, goalkeeper Nathaniel Nwosu and Haruna Aliyu from Doma United were among the players axed.
It will therefore be a brand-new Flying Eagles at Egypt 2025.
The new players include Hoffenheim pair of Emmanuel Chukwu and Precious Benjamin as Croatia-based defensive midfielder Caleb Odechukwu, who featured at the 2023 edition of the tournament also hosted by Egypt.
Golden Eaglets captain Simon Cletus, a highly-promising central midfielder, was also one of 15 new players picked for the AFCON, which also serves as qualifiers for the FIFA U20 World Cup in Chile.
Of the 24 players who made the final cut, six play overseas.
Coach Aliyu Zubairu’s favoured formation is the 4-3-3 and so he stresses on the passing game and wing play.
Close observers will hope these changes will mean a better Flying Eagles from the one that struggled to convince at WAFU qualifiers in Togo even though they topped the tournament.
The 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); 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 Jojo (El-Kanemi Warriors); Auwal Ibrahim (Akwa United); Shafiu Adamu 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)
