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Tag: Flying Eagles

  • Flying Eagles intensify U20 AFCON preparations in Abuja

    Flying Eagles intensify U20 AFCON preparations in Abuja

    Seven-time champions Nigeria have relocated back to the Federal Capital, Abuja as they intensify preparations for the 24th  Africa U20 Cup of Nations starting later this month in Egypt.

    The contingent returned to Abuja after a three-week training programme in Katsina, where they had gone to camp in order to feel the weather which was found to be the same with that of Cote d’Ivoire – the country originally designated to host the tournament. With Cote d’Ivoire pulling out as host nation in the last hour, to the consternation of the Confederation of African Football and the participating teams, Egypt (host of the last edition in 2023) stepped in as hosts.

     “We are grateful to His Excellency, Governor Umaru Dikko Radda for hosting the team for three weeks in Katsina and making sure players and officials trained and camped in a conducive environment. The coaches have had some useful time to work on the team and it is now down to the final stages of preparation where the ascent will be on tactical and technical formations.

    “At the moment, due to the change of host nation, and the difference in weather conditions between Cote d’Ivoire and Egypt, we are looking at the team leaving Nigeria early to spend about 10 days in Egypt before the commencement of the tournament,” NFF General Secretary, Dr Mohammed Sanusi, said on Wednesday.

    The team will make use of the FIFA Goal Project training field for training sessions before departing for Egypt in the next one week.

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    For the purpose of the camping in Abuja, Head Coach Aliyu Zubairu – who led the team to successfully defend its WAFU B U20 Championship gong in Togo in October last year – has invited a total of 35 players, including three goalkeepers, eight defenders, 10 midfielders and 14 forwards.

    All four semi-finalists in Egypt will qualify to represent Africa at this year’s FIFA U20 World Cup finals scheduled for Chile, 27th  September – 18th  October.

    35 FLYING EAGLES FOR CAMPING IN ABUJA:

    Goalkeepers: Ifeanyi Ebenezer Harcourt (Sporting Lagos); Rufai Abubakar (Mavlon FC); Soliu Ajia (FK Novi Pazar, Serbia)

    Defenders: Adewale Quadri (Nath Boys Academy); Adamu Maigari (El-Kanemi Warriors); Odinaka Okoro Emmanuel (Sporting Lagos); Kenneth Igboke (Enugu Rangers); Daniel Bameyi (Bayelsa United); Haruna Aliyu (Wikki Tourists); Chukwu Emmanuel (TSG 1899 Hoffenheim, Germany); Chigozie Michael Ihejiofor (Katsina United)

    Midfielders: Caleb Ochedikwu (NK Ujanik, Croatia); Michael Tunde (Simon Ben FC); Sabiu Mohammed (Niger Tornadoes); Akinniran Oluwashile (Water FC); Ibrahim Alani (Real Valladolid, Spain); Ayuma Isaac Israel (NK Istra, Croatia); Cletus Simon (Mavlon FC); Sulaiman Alabi Jojo (El-Kanemi Warriors); Auwal Ibrahim (Akwa United); Shafiu Adamu Duguri (Wikki Tourists)

    Forwards: Umar Abubakar (KAA Gent, Belgium); Anthony Ezekiel (Inspire FC); Otu Joseph (Mavlon FC); Nasiru Salihu (El-Kanemi Warriors); Divine Oliseh (Forster Academy); Adeleke Abdulmuiz (Adoration FC); Clinton Jephta (Enyimba FC); Bidemi Amole (Real Sapphire FC); Tahir Maigana (Wireless FC); Rickson Mendos (Niger Tornadoes); Mustapha Umar (Kano Pillars); Kingsley Matthew (Kings FC); Armiyau Yusha’u (Katsina United); Benjamin Precious (TSG 1899 Hoffenheim, Germany).

  • Côte d’Ivoire 2025: Flying Eagles to play group phase matches in Korhogo

    Côte d’Ivoire 2025: Flying Eagles to play group phase matches in Korhogo

    Seven-time African champions, Nigeria will commence their participation in the 2025 Africa U20 Cup of Nations finals with a game against the Young Pharaohs of Egypt on Wednesday, 30th  April, at the 20,000-capacity Amadou Gon Coulibaly stadium in Korhogo.

    The encounter is billed to kick off at 5pm CIV time (6pm Nigeria time).

    The Flying will next take on Morocco’s Young Atlas Lions at the same venue, starting 8pm local time (9pm Nigeria time) on  Saturday, 3rd  May.

    Read Also: NFF accepts Carloha as official automobile partner for  National Teams

    Nigeria, who qualified for the finals following a successful defence of their WAFU B U20 Championship title in Lome in October 2024, will then wrap up their group B campaign with a session against South Africa, also in Korhogo on Tuesday, 6th May, starting from 5pm local time (6pm Nigeria time).

    The Flying Eagles, quarter-finalists of the last edition of the FIFA U20 World Cup in Argentina in 2023, are currently camping in Katsina, courtesy of the State Government, in the first phase of their final preparations for the continental championship.

    A semi-final spot in Côte d’Ivoire will guarantee the Eagles a spot in this year’s FIFA U20 World Cup finals in Chile, 27th September – 19th October.

  • International Friendly:  Two-Star Flying Eagles  drub Young Elephants  in Abidjan

    International Friendly:  Two-Star Flying Eagles  drub Young Elephants  in Abidjan

    The Flying Eagles were emphatic 2-0 winners over hosts Young Elephants of Cote d’Ivoire in the first of two international friendly matches at the Stade Félix Houphouet Boigny in the heart of the Ivorian capital.

    Captain Daniel Bameyi made good from the spot three minutes after the hour mark, converting from six yards after an infringement on darting forward Divine Oliseh.

    The seven-time African champions dominated from kick-off and the hosts were fortunate to go into recess still on level terms with their visitors.

    Read Also: NFF to name Super  Eagles’ coaching crew at Chelle’s unveiling today 

    However, the Flying Eagles, two-time FIFA World Cup silver medallists, were determined to put some gloss on the score line and Oliseh did just that with 10 minutes left.

    Both teams will square up to each other again at the same venue on Friday, as they test strength ahead of this year’s Africa U20 Cup of Nations taking place between  26th  April and 18th  May.

    Tournament hosts Cote d’Ivoire have been drawn in group A of the biennial championship, alongside DR Congo, Ghana, Tanzania and the second flag-bearers of central Africa, while the Flying Eagles will battle it out with Egypt, South Africa and Morocco in a potentially-flammable group B.  

  • Friendly Matches: Flying Eagles face-off with Young Elephants in Abidjan

    Friendly Matches: Flying Eagles face-off with Young Elephants in Abidjan

    The delegation of Nigeria’s U20 boys, Flying Eagles, has  landed in Abidjan ahead of two friendly matches against the Young Elephants of Côte d’Ivoire.

    The contingent was led by Member of the NFF Executive, Alhaji Ganiyu Majekodunmi. Coach Aliyu Zubairu selected 21 players for the task, among whom are team captain Daniel Bameyi, first-choice goalkeeper Ifeanyi Harcourt, defender Haruna Aliyu, midfielder Cletus Simon and forwards Clinton Japhet and Olalekan Sulaiman Alabi.

    The seven-time African champions take on their Ivorian counterparts at the Stade Félix Houphouët Boigny in the Ivorian capital starting from 3.30pm CIV time (4.30pm Nigeria time) today. Both teams will again clash on Friday at the same venue, with the same kick-off time.

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    FLYING EAGLES FOR FRIENDLY GAMES WITH CIV

    Goalkeepers: Ifeanyi Harcourt (Sporting Lagos); Abubakar Rufai (Mavlon FC)

    Defenders: Adamu Maigari (El-Kanemi Warriors); Daniel Bameyi (Bayelsa United); Emmanuel Okoro (Sporting Lagos); Haruna Aliyu (Wikki Tourists); Babatunde Jimoh Faruq; Stephen Jolomi (Mavlon FC)

    Midfielders: Kingsley Matthew (Kings FC); Gbolahan Ajisafe Wasiu (Smart City); Anthony Ezekiel; Mohammed Sabiu Ibrahim (Niger Tornadoes); Olalekan Sulaiman Alabi (El-Kanemi Warriors); Shafiu Adamu Duguri (Wikki Tourists); Cletus Simon (Mavlon FC); Nasiru Salihu (El-Kanemi Warriors)

    Forwards: Bidemi Olalekan Amole (Real Sapphire Academy); Clinton Japhet (Enyimba FC); Abdulmuiz Adeleke (Adoration FC); Divine Oliseh (Fostar Academy); Ayomide Muftau Mubarak

  • Flying Eagles get tough draw for CAF U20 Tourney

    Flying Eagles get tough draw for CAF U20 Tourney

    Nigeria U-20 men’s football team, the Flying Eagles, have been handed tough group opponents at the 2025 CAF U-20 tournament in Cote d’Ivoire later in the year.

    The Seven-time champions are grouped alongside Egypt, South Africa and Morocco in the group phase at the draw held yesterday in Cairo, Egypt.

    The Flying Eagles are not new to their opponents with previous meetings between them and other teams in the group.

    Reacting to the draw, former Eagles of Mali star, Adama Coulibaly, who assisted at the draw, said: “There is no doubt that the toughest group is the group B that has Nigeria, Egypt, South Africa and Morocco.”

    In the other groups, hosts Cote d’Ivoire are drawn against the Democratic Republic of Congo, Ghana, Tanzania and the yet-to-emerge representative team of the Central Africa zone in a five-team group A.

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    Group C houses defending champions Senegal, Zambia, Kenya and Sierra Leone, who are debuting at the tournament.

    The two top-placed teams in each group, alongside the best two third-placed finishers in the three groups, will advance to the championship’s quarter-finals.

    The tournament will hold between  26th  April and 18th  May.

    The Full Groupings

    GROUP A: Cote d’Ivoire, UNNIFAC, DR Congo, Ghana, Tanzania

    GROUP B: Nigeria, Egypt, South Africa, Morocco

    GROUP C: Senegal, Zambia, Kenya, Sierra Leone

  • U20 AFCON: Cote d’Ivoire to host Flying Eagles, others

    U20 AFCON: Cote d’Ivoire to host Flying Eagles, others

    The Confederation of African Football (CAF) has announced Cote d’Ivoire as the host country for the 2025 U20 African Cup of Nations.

    Since the completion of the qualifiers, the football body has delayed the announcement of the country that will stage the competition before it was named yesterday.

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    Egypt and South Africa initially were said to have signified intention in hosting the competition but both nations did not firm up their intentions to CAF.

    CAF yesterday afternoon in Marrakech, Morocco the venue of the 2024 CAF Awards announced Cote d’Ivoire as the host country for the competition.

    Nigeria’s Flying Eagles is among the 12 countries that have secured their passage to the competition.

  • Nigeria 2-1 Ghana : Flying Eagles retain WAFU B crown courtesy  Arierhi’s double

    Nigeria 2-1 Ghana : Flying Eagles retain WAFU B crown courtesy  Arierhi’s double

    Slippery forward Kparobo Arierhi netted a brace as champions Nigeria successfully defended their WAFU U20 title after a 2-1 defeat of regional rivals Ghana in this year’s final in Lome.

    The Flying Eagles dominated large swatches of the encounter, but it turned out a game of two halves and Nigeria were imperious in the first half and Ghana turned on the heat in the second.

    Harcourt came up with a clever palm-down when the Ghanaians broke through from the left with a cross and a header in the 14th minute, and then punched the ball away after a point-blank shot as the Satellites waltzed their way into the box from the right in added time.

    In-between, Kparobo Arierhi had concluded the damage. First, in the 34th  minute, he received a pass on the edge of the box as the Flying Eagles broke forward on the right, and scored with the trusted poacher’s calm, left-footed finish into the bottom corner, with the goalkeeper clutching grass.

    The second was more spectacular. Nigerian manfully snatched the ball half-way into the Satellites’ area, and a couple of passes left Kparobo, who plays his club football for Beyond Limits FC, and had scored Nigeria’s winner in the 2-1 win over Cote d’Ivoire in the group phase, face to face with the goalkeeper. Without any attempt at showboating, he unleashed a right-footed rocket right into the roof of the net.

    Read Also: Zubairu eyes successive WAFU B title with Flying Eagles

    On the hour, Nigeria had to spiritedly clear their lines as the Black Satellites, in a rare onslaught, picked the pockets of several defenders and got the ball past goalkeeper Harcourt.

    Five minutes later, Nigeria again escaped through stout defending as a flurry of shots from inside and outside the box simply failed to get the ball beyond Harcourt. 

    The pressure finally paid off for the Ghanaians in the 74th minute, as they reduced the tally following a goalmouth melee.

    However, the Flying Eagles held on to retain their trophy won two years ago in Niger Republic, and with Kparobo Arierhi collecting the Man-of-the-Match award.

    Nigeria and Ghana will represent WAFU B at next year’s Africa U20 Cup of Nations, to be hosted by South Africa.

  • Flying Eagles edge  Elephants into  WAFU B semi-finals

    Flying Eagles edge  Elephants into  WAFU B semi-finals

    Nigeria came from behind to edge a flaming battle with Cote d’Ivoire 2-1 in Lome on Thursday to reach the semi-finals of this year’s WAFU B U20 Championship.

    In the event, Burkina Faso’s Young Etalons were eliminated on inferior goal-count against those of the Flying Eagles and the Young Elephants. Nigeria scored two goals and conceded two, same for the Ivorians, with all three teams in group B finishing with three points each. The Burkinabes scored one and conceded one, in beating Nigeria and losing to the Ivorians, by the odd goal each way.

    Victory handed Aliyu Zubair’s side the opportunity to continue chasing the defence of their title, won in Niamey two years ago.

    A feisty first half at the Municipal Stadium ended scoreless. Bidemi Amole’s hopeful shot from distance sailed wide, while striker Kparobo’s powerful shot was pushed out for a corner by the Ivorian goalkeeper.

    Read Also: WAFU B Tourney: Flying Eagles in make or mar tie against  Elephants

    In the 39th  minute, Nigeria’s appeal for a penalty was rejected by the referee. As the first half drew to a close, the Flying Eagles continued to press, with Amole’s effort crashing against the crossbar.

    The second half witnessed increased urgency from the Flying Eagles. Côte d’Ivoire’s effort was chalked off in the 48th  minute, and Nigeria’s striker Kparobo was denied by the goalkeeper in the 53rd  minute. Amole, again, came close soon after.

    The Ivorians finally broke the deadlock in the 62nd minute, but Clinton Jephta equalized for Nigeria shortly after. Kparobo Arierhi scored the winning goal, securing a 2-1 win for the Flying Eagles.

    “We showed resilience and determination,” said Coach Aliyu Zubairu, “We’re delighted with the victory and look forward to the semi-finals.”

    Nigeria will take on Niger Republic in  tomorrow’s semi-finals.

  • Soname boosts Flying Eagles for WAFU B Tourney

    Soname boosts Flying Eagles for WAFU B Tourney

    • Zubair lists Agada, Salihu, 18 others

     Head Coach Aliyu Zubair has selected talented midfielder Nasiru Salihu and forward Charles Agada among a list of 20 players to fly Nigeria’s flag at the WAFU B U20 Championship kicking off in Lome, Togo tomorrow. 

    The championship is a qualifying tournament for next year’s Africa U20 Cup of Nations.

    The contingent of 20 players and 12 officials arrived in Lome yesterday , following an intensive, one-week final camping programme at the high-grade Remo Stars Training Complex in Ikenne, Ogun State.

    Proprietor of the institute and president of Nigeria Premier Football League club Remo Stars, Hon. Kunle Soname has promised the Flying Eagles the sum of N5 million if the Cup holders successfully defend their title in Togo and return the trophy home. He also gave the team the sum of N1 million on departure from the institute on Monday.

    The Flying Eagles won the last edition of the competition staged in Niamey, capital of Niger Republic. They will take on their counterparts from Burkina Faso on Friday, in their first match of the competition, and will also play Cote d’Ivoire in a three-team Group B, with the two best teams to reach the semi-finals.

    Group A has hosts Togo, Ghana, Niger Republic and Benin Republic.

    Read Also:U20 AFCON: Flying Eagles begin title defence  against B’Faso

    Flying Eagles for 2024 WAFU B U20 Championship:

    Goalkeepers: Ifeanyi Harcourt (Sporting Lagos); Nathaniel Nwosu (Nasarawa United)

    Defenders: Adamu Maigari (El-Kanemi Warriors); Daniel Bameyi (Bayelsa United); Kenneth Igboke (Enugu Rangers); Haruna Aliyu (Doma United); Musa Ademu (Wireless FC); Olalekan Alabi (El-Kanemi Warriors)

    Midfielders: Raphael Oyebanjo (Shuffle Select FC); Muhammad Ibrahim (Niger Tornadoes); Oluwaseyi Akinfenwa (Real Sapphire FC); Ibrahim Abdullahi (Bayelsa United); Isaac Ayuma (NK Istra, Croatia); Nasiru Salihu (El-Kanemi Warriors)

    Forwards: Divine Oliseh (Forster FC); Charles Agada (Mavlon FC); Kparobo Arierhi (Beyond Limits FC); Olalekan Amole (Real Sapphire FC); Olalekan Ibrahim (Central Academy); Clinton Jephta (Enyimba FC)

  • WAFU B Tourney: Flying Eagles’ opponents Burkina Faso land in Togo 

    WAFU B Tourney: Flying Eagles’ opponents Burkina Faso land in Togo 

    The young Etalons of Burkina Faso have landed swiftly in Lome, Togo and are awaiting their first game in the WAFU U20 Championship against Nigeria on Friday.

    The competition is slated to start on Thursday with the hosts, Togo involved in the opening game before Nigeria and Burkina Faso will trade tackles on Friday.

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    The Burkinabes arrived in Lome yesterday afternoon and they quickly moved to their hotel.

    They are expected to resume training for the Nigeria’s clash today ahead of the anticipated clash on Friday.

    Cote d’Ivoire are the other team in Group B.