Nigeria’s U20 national football team, the Flying Eagles, have officially resumed training in Abuja as part of their intensive preparations for the upcoming 2025 Africa U20 Cup of Nations (AFCON) in Côte d’Ivoire. The team is set to face Egypt in two international friendly matches as they gear up for the continental tournament.
Flying Eagles Set for Egypt Friendlies
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the friendly matches against Egypt’s U20 team will take place on February 25 and 27 in Cairo, Egypt. These games serve as crucial warm-up matches for the Flying Eagles, who are seeking to fine-tune their squad and tactics ahead of the highly competitive AFCON tournament, which is scheduled to be held from April 26 to May 18, 2025 in Côte d’Ivoire.
According to Team Administrator, Aliyu Ibrahim, Head Coach Aliyu Zubairu has invited 30 players to camp as the team looks to assemble a formidable squad for the competition.
Qualification for the FIFA U20 World Cup
The Africa U20 Cup of Nations is not only a prestigious tournament but also serves as a qualifier for the FIFA U20 World Cup. The top four teams from the competition will earn automatic qualification to represent Africa at the FIFA U20 World Cup, which will be hosted by Chile from September 27 to October 19, 2025.
Nigeria’s Flying Eagles: A History of Success
The Flying Eagles are among the most decorated U20 teams in African football, having won the Africa U20 Cup of Nations a record seven times in the following years:
- 1983
- 1985
- 1987
- 1989
- 2005
- 2011
- 2015
Additionally, the team won the WAFU-B U20 Championship in Lome, Togo, in October 2024, further cementing their dominance in youth football on the continent.
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 (Club not specified)
- 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)
- Abdulrahman Ishaq (Sport Supply Academy)
- Ezekiel Anthony (Aspire Academy)
- Sodiq Olalekan Adewunmi (Jaguar Sports FC)
What These Friendlies Mean for the Flying Eagles
The two matches against Egypt will serve as a crucial test for Coach Aliyu Zubairu and his squad, as they look to assess player performances, improve team chemistry, and finalize tactics ahead of the AFCON tournament.
The Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) is expected to use these games to identify key players who will form the backbone of the Flying Eagles’ squad for the competition in Côte d’Ivoire. With a history of success at the U20 level, Nigeria will be aiming for another dominant campaign in the tournament and a return to the FIFA U20 World Cup.
Conclusion
The Flying Eagles’ preparation for the 2025 Africa U20 Cup of Nations is now in full swing, with the upcoming friendlies against Egypt on February 25 and 27 providing a vital opportunity for fine-tuning the team. With a strong history in African youth football, the team will be looking to reclaim their continental dominance and secure a spot in the FIFA U20 World Cup later this year in Chile.
As the camp in Abuja progresses, all eyes will be on Coach Aliyu Zubairu’s selection choices and how the Flying Eagles perform in Cairo—a significant step toward their AFCON and World Cup ambitions.
