Nigeria’s U-20 national team head coach, Aliyu Zubairu, has released a 24-man squad for the upcoming 2025 Africa U-20 Cup of Nations, set to kick off in Egypt in 10 days.
The squad comprises a mix of home-based players and foreign-based professionals, including several who play their club football in Europe.
In the goalkeeping department, the head coach named Ifeanyi Ebenezer Harcourt (Sporting Lagos), Rufai Abubakar (Mavlon FC), and Soliu Ajia Yakub (FK Novi Pazar).
Defensive options include Adamu Maigari (El-Kanemi Warriors), Odinaka Okoro (Sporting Lagos), Daniel Bameyi (Bayelsa United), Emmanuel Chukwu (TSG 1899 Hoffenheim), and Chigozie Michael Ihejiofor (Katsina United).
Zubairu called up Caleb Ochedikwu (NK Uljanik Pula, Croatia), Israel Isaac Ayuma (NK Istra), Simon Cletus (Mavlon FC), Sulaiman Alabi Jojo (El-Kanemi Warriors), Auwal Ibrahim (Akwa United), and Shafiu Adamu Duguri (Wikki Tourists) in midfield.
The forward line includes Precious Benjamin (TSG 1899 Hoffenheim), 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), Matthew Kingsley
(Kings FC), and Yushau Armiyau (Katsina United).
The squad is expected to travel to Egypt in the coming days for a final training camp ahead of the competition. Nigeria, a record seven-time winner of the U-20 AFCON, will be aiming for an eighth title and a place at the 2025 FIFA U-20 World Cup.
The 2025 Africa U-20 Cup of Nations will also serve as the African qualification tournament for the FIFA U-20 World Cup, with the top four teams guaranteed automatic qualification.
