Nigeria's Flying Eagles take on Senegal on Monday for a ticket to the semifinal of the 2025 Under-20 Africa Cup of Nations.
The tie promises to be an interesting one, as both teams are from two of West Africa's best footballing nations. Senegal are also looking to retain their crown, after winning the competition in 2023.
The Young Teranga Lions have struggled in this tournament and needed a 2-0 win in their last group stage game against DR Congo to steal a quarterfinal spot.
HIGHLIGHTS: 2-0
Senegal step up with a solid performance to claim all three points.#TotalEnergiesAFCONU20 | #SENRDC pic.twitter.com/lXTt4SMMUa
— CAF_Online (@CAF_Online) May 8, 2025
Coach Aliyu Zubairu's boys haven't sparkled or produced fireworks themselves, so it will be a really tight game.
Ahead of the fixture, Soccernet.ng highlights five Nigerian players who could decide the game on Monday.
Daniel Bameyi
Team skipper Daniel Bameyi has been Nigeria's best player at the Under-20 AFCON. He has been the iron man at the heart of the team’s defence.
Commanding at the back, calm under pressure.
One to watch : Daniel Bameyi. #TotalEnergiesAFCONU20 | @Football2Gether pic.twitter.com/hRshrzmfUn
— CAF_Online (@CAF_Online) May 6, 2025
He has also been proven to be a good penalty taker, as he scored the penalty that helped the Flying Eagles steal a 2-2 draw against Kenya.
Daniel Bameyi’s spot kick goal for the Flying Eagles
Nigeria 2-2 Kenya #TotalEnergiesAFCONU20 #NGAMOR #BallyTalksSport pic.twitter.com/orcd3KFuLN
— Bally Talks Sport (@Jesuniyi_D_5th) May 7, 2025
Coach Zubairu will be banking on him to produce the goods again against the Young Teranga Lions.
Divine Oliseh
Divine Oliseh is the glue in the middle of the park for Nigeria. He has not proven to be the best ball passer, but among the other midfielders in Zubairu's team, no one carries the ball better. He is also a hardworker, so he will surely give the Young Teranga Lions some problems.
Oliseh could even pop up with a goal or an assist on Monday.
Kparobo Arierhi
The Lillestrom striker has not shone like he was expected to, but he is surely one to watch. Arierhi has one goal so far, but that goal was enough proof that if he gets an opportunity, he will take it.
How could you ever keep Simon Cletus on the bench? Kparobo Arierhi what a finish pic.twitter.com/wis1iWcZ8z
— Naija Bias Football Channel ⚽ (@Naija_Bias_FC) May 7, 2025
If the Flying Eagles manage to produce a compact performance and create opportunities, they can bank on Arierhi to convert.
Odinaka Okoro
What a debut
Odinaka Okoro marked his first national team appearance with this high-quality performance and an assist.
One of our own pic.twitter.com/nIAglTGtBP
— Sporting Lagos (@SportingLagos) May 3, 2025
Odinaka Okoro has been decent for Nigeria at the Under-20 AFCON. He provided the assist for the Flying Eagles' solitary goal against Tunisia in their opening game.
Although he did not replicate that in the next two games against Morocco and Kenya, he has shown good work rate, bumping forward and doing his primary job of defending well.
Ebenezer Harcourt
Ebenezer Harcourt has a big game ahead of him on Monday, and he has to turn up. He has made some mistakes in the tournament, but none of them has led to a goal.
Against Kenya, he faced 19 shots and conceded twice, albeit one was from the spot. Against the defending champions, Senegal, Harcourt has to bring his A-game.
