Nigeria’s U20 national team, the Flying Eagles, have officially begun preparations in Accra, Ghana, ahead of the 2024 WAFU B U20 Boys Championship, determined to defend their crown and claim a historic third consecutive title.
The competition, which runs from July 10 to 23 at the Prampram Technical Centre, was initially billed to include teams from both WAFU Zones A and B, but organizers have since scaled it back to a WAFU B-only format. Ghana, Benin Republic, Cote d’Ivoire, Burkina Faso, Togo, and Niger Republic will battle alongside Nigeria for the regional title and a ticket to the U20 AFCON.
Head Coach Aliyu Zubairu has named a balanced 20-man squad made up of returning internationals and emerging local league stars. Leading the team is captain Daniel Bameyi, one of the stalwarts from the side that finished third at the 2024 Africa U20 Cup of Nations in Egypt, securing Nigeria a spot at the FIFA U20 World Cup in Chile later this year.
Also returning from that continental bronze-winning squad are goalkeeper Ebenezer Harcourt, defender Odinaka Okoro, and midfielders Bidemi Amole, Ezekiel Kpangu, Divine Oliseh, and Tahir Maigana. They are joined by fresh talents like goalkeeper Clinton Andy (Bayelsa United), defender Marvelous Freedom (Ikorodu City), and striker Qudus Olayiwola (P Sport FC), all eager to make their mark on the international stage.
Nigeria, who won the last two editions of the WAFU B tournament in Niger (2022) and Togo (2020), will kick off their title defence against arch-rivals and hosts Ghana on Thursday, July 10 at 3pm. The encounter promises fireworks as both sides look to set the tone in the tightly contested three-team Group A, which also features Benin Republic.
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Group B consists of Cote d’Ivoire, Burkina Faso, Niger Republic, and Togo, with the Ivorians facing the Burkinabes in the pool’s opening match.
Coach Zubairu expressed confidence in his squad’s blend of experience and youth:
> “We have a core that understands what it means to wear the green-white-green, and new players hungry to prove themselves. The objective is clear – qualify for the U20 AFCON and give these boys a platform to grow into future Super Eagles.”
The Flying Eagles will hope to top their group and progress to the semifinals, as the top two teams from the WAFU B region will qualify for the 2025 Africa U20 Cup of Nations.
FULL SQUAD – NIGERIA’S FLYING EAGLES FOR 2024 WAFU B U20:
Goalkeepers:
Ifeanyi Ebenezer Harcourt (Sporting Lagos)
Clinton Andy (Bayelsa United)
Defenders:
Abba Khalid Sadiq (Niger Tornadoes)
Odinaka Okoro (Sporting Lagos)
Daniel Bameyi (Bayelsa United)
Akinniran Oluwashile (Water FC)
Ahmed Akinyele (Remo Stars)
Marvelous Freedom (Ikorodu City)
Midfielders:
Divine Oliseh (Forster Academy)
Bidemi Amole (Real Sapphire FC)
Tahir Maigana (Wireless FC)
Ezekiel Kpangu (Inspire Academy)
Rawa Mohammed (Beyond Limits)
Matthew Kingsley (Kings FC)
Abduljelil Kamaldeen (Kwara Football Academy)
Shafiu Adamu Duguri (Wikki Tourists)
Forwards:
Abdullahi Muhammed (Kwara United)
Godday Otalyul-Imbus (Calabar Rovers)
Imrana Muhammad (Mavlon FC)
Qudus Olayiwola (P Sport FC)
