The 24th edition of the tournament is scheduled to hold between Sunday, February 19 and Saturday, March 11, 2023.
Head coach of Nigeria's under-20 national team Ladan Bosso has finally revealed his 25-man squad ahead of this month's U-20 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) scheduled to hold in Egypt.
The 24th edition of the tournament, scheduled to hold between Sunday, February 19 and Saturday, March 11, 2023, will serve as the qualifying tournament for this year’s FIFA U20 World Cup in Indonesia.
Should Ladan Bosso's Flying Eagles not only secure a ticket to Indonesia but go all the way to win the tournament, it will be Nigeria's eighth, having previously won the competition in 1983, 1985, 1987, 1989, 2005, 2011, and 2015.
Full list of selected players for U-20 AFCON
Goalkeepers: Nathaniel Nwosu (Water FC), Chijioke Anigboso (Giant Brillars), Saheed Akanbi (Adoration FC).
Defenders: Daniel Bamaiyi (YumYum FC), Michael Ologo (Instanbulspor), Abel Ogwuche (Trelleborgs FF), Solomon Agbalaka (Broad City), Augustine Njoku (Abia Warriors), Benjamin Frederick (Nasarawa United).
Midfielders: Daniel Daga (Dakkada FC), Onuche Ogbelu (Nasarawa United), Musa Usman, Mohammed Aminu ( Mailantarki FC), Jonathan Nicholas (Simoiben FC), Shatima Umar( Mahaniam FC), Caleb Ochedikwu (Mavlon FC), Samson Lawal (Unattached).
Forwards: Jude Sunday (Realsaphier FC), Francis Ayuba (Nasarawa United), Adams Olamilekan (Remo Stars), Ahmed Abdullahi (Gent), Haliru Sarki (Maikunkele FC), Emmanuel Uchegbu (Plateau United), Ibrahim Mohammed (Mavlon FC), Kingsley James (Unattached).
Of the 25 selected players who made the cut, only three are foreign-based professionals;
- Michael Ologo (Instanbulspor of Turkey)
- Abel Ogwuche (Trelleborgs FF of Sweden)
- Ahmed Abdullahi (Gent FC of Belgium)
Nigeria to play first game on February 19
The Flying will face the hosts Egypt, three-time losing finalists Senegal, and Mozambique, having been drawn into Group A of the competition.
The Ladan Bosso-led side will play Senegal in their first match on February 19 at the Cairo International Stadium.
Related content
18:48 - 03.02.2023
U-20 AFCON Flying Eagles beat Junior Chipolopolo in friendly
The Flying Eagles beat Junior Chipolopolo 4-2 in Abuja to prepare for AFCON
20:58 - 27.01.2023
U-20 AFCON '75 percent ready' - Zambia's assistant coach says ahead of games with Flying Eagles
Nigeria's Flying Eagles will in February, head to the U-20 AFCON in Egypt as the tournament's record champions, having won 1983, 1985, 1987, 1989, 2005, 2011, and 2015 competitions.
18:39 - 15.12.2022
AFCON U20 Flying Eagles beats Wikki Tourists
Coach Ladan Bosso won their seven consecutive friendly matches in the buildup to the Africa U-20 Cup of Nations.