15-year-old goalkeeper Ebenezer Harcourt, who plays for Sporting Lagos Football Academy, was Nigeria’s starting shot-stopper throughout the CAF U20 competition—an almost unprecedented feat for someone of his age in a continental tournament of this calibre.
Born on 21 October 2009, Harcourt is the youngest player at this year’s championship, but his composure, reflexes and maturity have matched, if not surpassed, those of his more experienced peers.
His most defining moment came in the quarter-final against Senegal, where he saved two penalties in the shootout, leading the Flying Eagles to the semi-finals and securing Nigeria’s place at the FIFA U-20 World Cup in Chile.
That performance didn’t just win the match—it earned Harcourt admiration from scouts, fans across the continent and a call-up for the CHAN tournament in Zanzibar.
Head coach of the Nigerian team, Eric Chelle, handed a call-up to Nigeria U20 goalkeeper Ebenezer Harcourt to join the team at the ongoing CHAN Championship after their opening defeat against Senegal, but primarily due to the fact that the other goalkeeper, Ani Ozoemena, was injured, although he is back in training.
The coach is a huge admirer of the young goalkeeper after his exploits with the Nigeria U20 team at the U20 AFCON. He is seen as the next big thing in goal for Nigeria.
Preferred ahead of Mustapha Lawal, who shipped five goals in two outings, Harcourt made his Super Eagles debut and displayed maturity well beyond his years.
Commanding his box, organising his backline, and pulling off crucial stops, he secured Nigeria’s only clean sheet of the tournament.
Perhaps the biggest positive from Nigeria’s short-lived CHAN adventure is the emergence of 15-year-old goalkeeper Ebenezer Harcourt.
