Nigeria’s U20 team, the Flying Eagles, have resumed camp in Abuja as they gear up for a two-match tour of Egypt later this month. Head Coach Aliyu Zubairu has invited 30 players to the camp as part of preparations for the Africa U20 Cup of Nations (AFCON) in Cote d’Ivoire.
Team Administrator Aliyu Lawal Ibrahim confirmed that the seven-time African champions will face Egypt’s U20 team in Cairo on February 25 and 27.
The upcoming AFCON, scheduled from April 26 to May 18 in Cote d’Ivoire, will determine the continent’s four representatives at the FIFA U20 World Cup in Chile, set for September 27 to October 19.
The Flying Eagles secured their place in the AFCON after clinching the WAFU-B U20 Championship in Lome, Togo, where they defeated Ghana’s Black Satellites 3-1 in the final. They are also two-time FIFA U20 World Cup runners-up, finishing as silver medalists in 1989 and 2005.
Flying Eagles Squad for Egypt Friendlies
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)
With a blend of experienced and emerging talents, the Flying Eagles will use the Egypt friendlies as a crucial test ahead of their quest for an eighth continental title in Cote d’Ivoire.
