Nigeria U20 men’s Head Coach, Aliyu Zubairu, has listed Lillestrøm forward Kparobo Arierhi and 23 others in his squad for this month’s U20 Africa Cup of Nations in Egypt, www.aclsports.com reports.
It will be recalled that Kparobo- the Beyond Limits Football Academy product-scored twice in the WAFU B final as Nigeria defeated Ghana to defend their title and book a place at the AFCON.
Also listed in the squad are first-choice goalkeeper Ifeanyi Harcourt, defender and captain Daniel Bameyi, and midfielder Sulaiman Alabi Jojo.
Midfielder Simon Cletus, and forwards Clinton Jephta, Divine Oliseh and Precious Benjamin (based in Germany) were also selected by the Elkanemi Warriors’ head coach.
Nigeria, seven-time African champions, will depart the shores of Nigeria for Egypt on Sunday, where they are expected to play a couple of friendly matches before their opening match of the competition against Tunisia in Cairo on Thursday, 1st May.
After the clash with the Tunisians, the Flying Eagles will face Morocco (also in Cairo) before rounding off their group games against Kenya on Wednesday, 7th May.
All four semi-finalists at the tournament in Egypt will fly Africa’s flag at this year’s FIFA U20 World Cup in Chile, 27th September – 19th October.
24 FLYING EAGLES FOR EGYPT 2025:
Goalkeepers: Ifeanyi Ebenezer Harcourt (Sporting Lagos); Rufai Abubakar (Mavlon FC); Soliu Ajia Yakub (FK Novi Pazar, Serbia)
Defenders: Adamu Maigari (El-Kanemi Warriors); Odinaka Okoro (Sporting Lagos); Daniel Bameyi (Bayelsa United); Emmanuel Chukwu (TSG 1899 Hoffenheim, Germany); Chigozie Michael Ihejiofor (Katsina United)
Midfielders: Caleb Ochedikwu (NK Uljanik Pula, Croatia); Israel Isaac Ayuma (NK Istra, Croatia); Simon Cletus (Mavlon FC); Sulaiman Alabi Jojo (El-Kanemi Warriors); Auwal Ibrahim (Akwa United); Shafiu Adamu Duguri (Wikki Tourists)
Forwards: Precious Benjamin (TSG 1899 Hoffenheim, Germany); Ezekiel Anthony Kpangu (Inspire FC); Divine Oliseh (Forster Academy); Clinton Jephta (Enyimba FC); Bidemi Amole (Real Sapphire FC); Tahir Maigana (Wireless FC); Theophilus Mendos Rickson (Niger Tornadoes); Kparobo Nathaniel Arierhi (Lillestrom SK, Norway); Matthew Kingsley (Kings FC); Yushau Armiyau (Katsina United)
