The Flying Eagles will carry Nigeria’s hopes at the 2025 U20 AFCON in Egypt, which kicks off Sunday in Cairo.
The team will test their readiness for this tournament, which also serves as qualifiers for the 2025 FIFA U20 World Cup, when they take on hosts Egypt in a test game today inside the Cairo International Stadium.
SCORENigeria has closely followed the team’s buildup to this tournament and now gives a detailed report on how they will play their way to glory in front of the famous pyramids of Egypt.
Coach Aliyu Zubairu’s favourite formation is the 4-3-3, but when the need arises he could tweak this to various other formations to get the desired results.
His team play the eye-catching passing game, which means emphasis on the midfield, a lot of mobility, quick transition and the wing play that is part of the Nigerian football DNA.
His first choice in goal is Ebenezer Harcourt from Sporting Lagos, who wrestled the No 1 jersey from Nathaniel Nwosu from the team’s second and crucial group game against Cote d’Ivoire.
Harcourt, whose father is a goalkeeper trainer, is not yet 16 to make him the squad’s youngest player.
He is also the tallest player at 1.95 metres.
He has good reflexes and commands his goal area thanks in part to his physical presence.
His deputy is Ajia Yakub, who is one of the oldest players on the squad and plays his football at Serbian club Novi Pazar.
The smart but petite Adamu Maigari of El Kanemi Warriors cemented his place at right full back after he held his own at the WAFU B qualifiers last year in Togo.
The left back position has been taken over by another small man in Odinaka Okoro from Sporting Lagos.
He has selected ahead of Kenneth Igbokwe, who last year was called up by the Super Eagles.
The central defence pairing is captain Daniel Bameyi and Hoffenheim recent signing Emmanuel Chukwu.
Bameyi will be appearing at his second U20 AFCON as captain and has been the pillar of the back four with his composure and leadership, while Chukwu is athletic and has been capped by the Golden Eaglets.
The midfield is literally the heart of this Flying Eagles and it has another player from the 2023 U20 AFCON, Caleb Ayuma, as well as a second defensive midfielder Israel Ayuma, who featured at the WAFU qualifiers.
The trump card for the coach in the midfield is Suleyman Alabi ‘Jojo’.
He is a hard working attacking midfielder full of industry and enjoys the total confidence of the man, who is also his coach at El Kanemi Warriors.
Such is his current form that the exciting Oliseh Divine has to be consigned to the subs’ bench.
Wingers Bidemi Amole and Clinton Jephta will play alongside top striker and one of the stars of the WAFU triumph Kparobo Arierhi.
Amole is one of the babies of the team, but he can do the unpredictable as well as score goals, while Jephta from Enyimba knows his way to goal.
Kparobo scored three goals including a brace in the WAFU B final against arch-rivals Ghana to emerge as one of the stars of the qualifying tournament.
He transferred to Norwegian club Lillestrom in January and his physical growth has been remarkable.
He is a very technical centre-forward and has proved at various levels that he scores goals.
His cover is another youngster Precious Benjamin, who signed his first professional contract with German Bundesliga club Hoffenheim in January.
The Flying Eagles likely Starting XI at 2025 U20 AFCON (4-3-3): Ebenezer Harcourt – Odinaka Okoro, Adamu Maigari, Daniel Bameyi (Capt), Emmanuel Chukwu – Caleb Ochedikwu, Israel Ayuma, Suleyman Alabi – Bidemi Amole, Kparobo Arierhi, Clinton Jeptha
