SCORENigeria can exclusively report that the battle for starting XI spots in the Flying Eagles for Thursday’s U20 AFCON Group B clash against Tunisia is fiercest in the midfield.
Coach Aliyu Zubairu employed the 4-3-3 formation to win the WAFU B U20 tournament in Togo last year and he will maintain this at Egypt 2025.
He already boasts of a settled defence and attack mainly from the WAFU triumph.
Goalkeeper Ebenezer Harcourt is first-choice, while captain and central defender Daniel Bameyi and right fullback Adamu Maigari have kept their first-team places from the sub-regional tournament last year.
In Togo, Haruna Aliyu partnered Bameyi in the heart of the back-four, but now in his absence after he was axed at the last minute, Hoffenheim new signing Emmanuel Chukwu is favoured ahead of Chigozie Ihejiofor of Katsina United.
The coach will start his strike force from the WAFU conquest – wingers Bidemi Amole and Clinton Jephta to support centre-forward Kparobo Arierhi.
It is in midfield that competition for starting places has been hectic.
Croatia-based Caleb Ochedikwu is the first-choice defensive midfielder and his experience from the 2023 U20 AFCON also in Egypt will stand him in good stead.
However, the battle for the other defensive midfield position is now a straight shootout between Akwa United youngster Auwal Ibrahim ‘Germany” and Israel Ayuma, who struggled to impress during the sub-regional qualifiers in Togo.
‘Germany’ was picked ahead of Ayuma for the warm-up game against U20 AFCON hosts Egypt and he impressed with his great passing game.
The attacking midfield position will also be a slug out between Suleyman Alabi ‘Jojo’ and Divine Oliseh.
Oliseh was the cover for El Kanemi Warriors star ‘Jojo’ in Togo, but in recent weeks the player of Foster Academy has shown class and panache that it will now be difficult for him to be consigned to the bench.
