Flying Eagles arrive in Abidjan for friendlies against Côte d’Ivoire

By Olaolu Joseph

Nigeria’s U-20 team, the Flying Eagles, arrived in Abidjan on Tuesday morning ahead of two friendly matches against Côte d’Ivoire’s Young Elephants.

The delegation, led by NFF Executive Committee member Alhaji Ganiyu Majekodunmi, includes 21 players selected by Coach Aliyu Zubairu. Among them 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 will face their Ivorian counterparts at the Stade Félix Houphouët-Boigny in Abidjan on Wednesday at 3:30 p.m. local time (4:30 p.m. Nigeria time). The teams will meet again on Friday at the same venue and kick-off time.

Travelling Squad

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