The head coach of Flying Eagles, Aliyu Zubairu, has chosen a squad of 24 players for this year’s Africa U20 Cup of Nations in Egypt, including first-choice goalkeeper Ifeanyi Harcourt, captain and defender Daniel Bameyi, midfielder Sulaiman Alabi Jojo, and forward Kparobo Arierhi. The tournament will kick off in 10 days. Additional players selected include defenders Adamu Maigari and Emmanuel Chukwu from Germany, midfielders Caleb Ochedikwu from Croatia and Simon Cletus, and forwards Clinton Jephta, Divine Oliseh, and Precious Benjamin also from Germany. The seven-time African champions and two-time World Cup runners-up will leave Nigeria for Egypt on Sunday, where they plan to engage in several friendly matches prior to facing Tunisia in their opening match in Cairo on Thursday, May 1st. They will play against Morocco three days later and conclude the group stage against Kenya on Wednesday, May 7th. All four teams that reached the semi-finals in the tournament held in Egypt will represent Africa at the FIFA U20 World Cup taking place in Chile from September 27 to October 19. Complete team roster. Goalkeepers: Ifeanyi Ebenezer Harcourt (Sporting Lagos); Rufai Abubakar (Mavlon FC); Soliu Ajia Yakub (FK Novi Pazar, Serbia). Defenders include: Adamu Maigari from El-Kanemi Warriors, Odinaka Okoro from Sporting Lagos, Daniel Bameyi from Bayelsa United, Emmanuel Chukwu from TSG 1899 Hoffenheim in Germany, and Chigozie Michael Ihejiofor from Katsina United. Midfield players include: Caleb Ochedikwu from NK Uljanik Pula in Croatia; Israel Isaac Ayuma from NK Istra, Croatia; Simon Cletus of Mavlon FC; Sulaiman Alabi Jojo representing El-Kanemi Warriors; Auwal Ibrahim from Akwa United; and Shafiu Adamu Duguri of Wikki Tourists. Forwards include: Precious Benjamin (TSG 1899 Hoffenheim, Germany); 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, Norway); Matthew Kingsley (Kings FC); and Yushau Armiyau (Katsina United).
