BY RAYMOND NWADUBA 
Three players of fast rising Nationwide League One outfit, Grassrunners FC has made the cut in the recently released list of selected 24 players by Flying Eagles coach, Aliyu Zubairu for the fourth coming U-20 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) tournament taking place in Egypt in less than two weeks time.

Germany based duo of defender Emmanuel Chukwu and striker Precious Benjamin, who both joined Bundesliga side, Hoffenheim  back in February this year and midfielder Sulyman Olalekan Alabi completes the list of Grassrunners players that will make the trip to Egypt with the national U-20 squad.

The list which also has captain Daniel Bameyi amongst others comprises of three goalkeepers, five defenders, six midfielders and 10 attackers, was officially made public on Thursday via a media Press release by the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF).

The Nigerian team had been camping in Katsina state, but relocated to the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Abuja,  for the final phase of their preparations following the unexpected withdrawal of Ivory Coast as hosts of the 2025 U-20 Africa Cup of Nations, with barely a month to the kickoff date of the competition. 

Katsina had similar weather conditions with initial hosts of the tournament, Ivory Coast, but the technical crew of the team had to quickly make the immediate change in plans after the West African country stepped down as host country with Egypt named as new hosts.

The seven-time African champions and two-time World Cup runners-up 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.

Three days after the clash with the Tunisians, the Flying Eagles will take the pitch against Morocco (also in Cairo) before rounding off their group phase experience 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.  

Below is the full list of selected players:

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)