By Victor Kanayo
The delegation of Nigeria’s U20 boys, commonly known as the Flying Eagles, arrived in Abidjan on Tuesday morning ahead of two friendly matches against the Young Elephants of Côte d’Ivoire.
The matches serve as a preparatory test for both teams ahead of the 2025 U20 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) tournament.
Heritage Times HT reports that Nigeria’s coach, Aliyu Zubairu, has selected 21 players for the fixtures, including goalkeepers Ifeanyi Harcourt (Sporting Lagos) and Abubakar Rufai (Mavlon FC).
The defenders are Adamu Maigari (El-Kanemi Warriors), Daniel Bameyi (Bayelsa United), Emmanuel Okoro (Sporting Lagos), Haruna Aliyu (Wikki Tourists), Babatunde Jimoh Faruq, and Stephen Jolomi (Mavlon FC).
Midfielders in the squad include Kingsley Matthew (Kings FC), Gbolahan Ajisafe Wasiu (Smart City), Anthony Ezekiel, Mohammed Sabiu Ibrahim (Niger Tornadoes), Olalekan Sulaiman Alabi (El-Kanemi Warriors), Shafiu Adamu Duguri (Wikki Tourists), Cletus Simon (Mavlon FC), and Nasiru Salihu (El-Kanemi Warriors).
The attacking line-up features Bidemi Olalekan Amole (Real Sapphire Academy), Clinton Japhet (Enyimba FC), Abdulmuiz Adeleke (Adoration FC), Divine Oliseh (Fostar Academy), and Ayomide Muftau Mubarak.
Nigeria, seven-time African champions, will take on their Ivorian counterparts at the Stade Félix Houphouët-Boigny in Abidjan at 3:30 pm CIV time (4:30 pm Nigeria time) on Wednesday.
Both teams will meet again on Friday at the same venue, with the same kick-off time.
