Nigeria’s U20 team, the Flying Eagles, have opened a new chapter under head coach Abdu Maikaba after the release of a 35-man squad for next month’s WAFU B U20 Championship in Côte d’Ivoire, Soccernet.ng reports.
The players are expected to arrive in Abuja on Saturday, 16 May, as preparations begin for the regional tournament scheduled for July. The camp is Maikaba’s first major assignment since taking charge of the seven-time African champions.
The squad contains three goalkeepers, 10 defenders, 11 midfielders and 11 forwards. Twenty-eight of the invited players are based in Nigeria, while seven play their football abroad.
Among the overseas-based stars called up are Málaga defender Wahab Bolanle Musa and Alaves striker Imrana Mohammed, two youngsters currently developing in Spain.
Croatian club NK Istra 1961 also has two representatives in the squad, with goalkeeper Abubakar Rufai and defender Mutari Momoh both included. Midfielder Simon Cletus, who plays for Rijeka, returns to the Flying Eagles set-up, while Czech Republic-based lad Peter Pam Davou of Vitkovice also made the list.
Most of the home-based players selected are drawn from clubs in the Nigeria Premier Football League, although others come from the Nigeria National League and several top academies across the country.
Newly promoted Sporting Lagos provided the highest number of players, with four youngsters making the camp list. The selection points to the growing reputation of the Lagos club’s youth structure after their recent rise in Nigerian football.
Nigeria head into the tournament hoping to improve on their recent record at regional level. The Flying Eagles reached the final of the 2025 WAFU B U20 Championship but lost 1-0 to hosts Côte d'Ivoire in the final.
At continental level, the team still showed its strength by winning bronze at the 2025 U20 Africa Cup of Nations. The Flying Eagles defeated Egypt on penalties after a 1-1 draw in the third-place match.
Their most recent FIFA U20 World Cup campaign in Chile also produced mixed emotions. Nigeria advanced from a difficult group after beating Saudi Arabia 3-2 and drawing 1-1 with Colombia, but their run ended in the Round of 16 after a heavy 4-0 defeat to Argentina.
The WAFU B tournament in July will therefore provide Maikaba with an early opportunity to shape his own squad, test new combinations and begin building another generation of players capable of returning Nigeria to the top of youth football in Africa.
Flying Eagles youngsters invited to camp
Goalkeepers: Clinton Lawani (Sporting Lagos); Abubakar Rufai (NK-Istra 1961(Croatia); Uchechukwu Aloysius (Akwa United)
Defenders: Ayinla Olayomi (Warri Wolves); Abubakar Aliyu (Wikki Tourists); Favour Nkwocha (Morak FC); Wahab Bolanle Musa (FC Malaga, Spain); Bonaventure Chiemela (Inter Lagos); Gamagira Umar Suleman (Ranchers Bees); Mathias Azi Yakubu (GBS); Mutari Momoh (NK-Istra 1961, Croatia); Abdulaziz Musa Ndaman (Mavlon FC); Godwin Samuel (Ikon Allah FC)
Midfielders: Victor Samuel (Sporting Lagos); Oraro Apine (Warri Wolves); Sale Abdulrashid (Kryubar FC, Ukraine); Sa’ad Tijjani (Barau FC); Imran Ahmad (Kano Pillars); Peres Jerem (P Sports); Ayeni Samson (Stormers FC); Habila Simeon Sulai (GBS); Simon Karshe Cletus (FC Rijeka, Croatia); Auwalu Mohammed (Bichi First FC); Ibrahim Yakubu (Turbo Touch)
Forwards: Abba Dalli (Katsina United); Prince Columbus (Forster Academy); Goodluck Angel (P Sports); Imrana Mohammed (FC Alaves, Spain); Adamu Hussaini (Barau FC); Seun Akanji (Sporting Lagos); Shamsudeen Adamu Abdullahi (Capital City FC); Alex Leme (Sporting Lagos); Ezekiel Oguchukwu (Mavlon FC); Mus’ab Suleiman (Footwork FC); Peter Pam Davou (Vitkovice, Czech Republic).
