Nigeria national under-20 football team

Last updated

Nigeria Under-20
Nickname(s) Flying Eagles
Association Nigeria Football Association
Confederation CAF (Africa)
Sub-confederation WAFU (West Africa)
Head coachAliyu Zubairu
Home stadium Agege Stadium
FIFA code NGA
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First colours
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Second colours
FIFA U-20 World Cup
Appearances13 (first in 1983 )
Best resultRunners-up (1989, 2005)
Africa U-20 Cup of Nations
Appearances18 (first in 1978–79 )
Best resultChampions (1983, 1985, 1987, 1989, 2005, 2011, 2015)
WAFU Zone B U-20 Tournament
Appearances3 (first in 2018 )
Best resultChampions (2022)

The Nigerian men's national under-20 football team represents Nigeria in men's international football also known as the Nigeria Under-20s or nicknamed the Flying Eagles. The Flying Eagles is the youth team for the national soccer in Nigeria. It plays a large role in the development of Nigerian football, and is considered the feeder team for the senior team. It is controlled by the Nigerian Football Federation. The team has won a record seven African U-20 Cup of Nations titles and are also two-times runners-up of the FIFA U-20 World Cup.

Contents

Competitive record

FIFA U-20 World Cup record

FIFA U-20 World Cup record
YearRoundPldWD*LGFGA
Flag of Tunisia.svg 1977 Did not qualify
Flag of Japan.svg 1979
Flag of Australia (converted).svg 1981
Flag of Mexico.svg 1983 Group stage311113
Flag of the Soviet Union.svg 1985 Third place631287
Flag of Chile.svg 1987 Group stage301228
Flag of Saudi Arabia.svg 1989 Runners-up6222910
Flag of Portugal.svg 1991 Did not qualify
Flag of Australia (converted).svg 1993
Flag of Qatar.svg 1995
Flag of Malaysia.svg 1997
Flag of Nigeria.svg 1999 Quarter-finals512267
Flag of Argentina.svg 2001 Did not qualify
Flag of the United Arab Emirates.svg 2003
Flag of the Netherlands.svg 2005 Runners-up7322105
Flag of Canada (Pantone).svg 2007 Quarter-finals531155
Flag of Egypt.svg 2009 Round of 16410376
Flag of Colombia.svg 2011 Quarter-finals5401155
Flag of Turkey.svg 2013 Round of 16420275
Flag of New Zealand.svg 2015 420285
Flag of South Korea.svg 2017 Did not qualify
Flag of Poland.svg 2019 Round of 16411265
Flag of Argentina.svg 2023 Quarter-finals530264
Flag of Chile.svg 2025 To be determined
Total13/24612611249075

Africa U-20 Cup of Nations record

Africa U-20 Cup of Nations
YearRoundPositionGPWD*LGSGA
1977 Did not enter
1979 Semi-finalists3rd412143
1981 Semi-finalists3rd410378
1983 Champions1st8512137
1985 Champions1st8422148
1987 Champions1st8611119
1989 Champions1st8530166
Flag of Egypt.svg 1991 Did not enter
Flag of Mauritius.svg 1993 Group stage5th310222
Flag of Nigeria.svg 1995 Third place3rd531186
Flag of Morocco.svg 1997 Did not qualify
Flag of Ghana.svg 1999 Second place2nd5311115
Flag of Ethiopia.svg 2001 Group stage8th301216
Flag of Morocco.svg 2003 Did not qualify
Flag of Benin.svg 2005 Champions1st5500113
Flag of the Republic of the Congo.svg 2007 Second place2nd521266
Flag of Rwanda.svg 2009 Third place3rd530285
Flag of South Africa.svg 2011 Champions1st540194
Flag of Algeria.svg 2013 Third place3rd530265
Flag of Senegal.svg 2015 Champions1st5401124
Flag of Zambia.svg 2017 Did not qualify
Flag of Niger.svg 2019 Fourth place4th521241
Flag of Mauritania.svg 2021 Did not qualify
Flag of Egypt.svg 2023 Third place3rd640282
Total18/237 titles9756142715190

A gold background colour indicates that Nigeria won the tournament.

*Draws include knockout matches decided on penalty kicks.

*There was no third place match from 1979-1989.

Team honours and achievements

Intercontinental

Continental

Sub-Continental

Staff

Current squad

The following players were named in the squad for the 2023 FIFA U-20 World Cup, to be played in May-June 2023. [2]

Caps and goals correct as of 10 March 2023, after the match against Tunisia.

No.Pos.PlayerDate of birth (age)CapsGoalsClub
1 GK Chijioke Aniagboso (2004-04-15) 15 April 2004 (age 20)50 Flag of Ukraine.svg Chornomorets Odesa
1 GK Nathaniel Nwosu (2006-01-10) 10 January 2006 (age 19)10 Flag of Nigeria.svg Water
1 GK John Utoblo (2003-07-05) 5 July 2003 (age 21)00 Flag of Nigeria.svg Mavlon

2 DF Solomon Agbalaka (2003-11-09) 9 November 2003 (age 21)61 Flag of Nigeria.svg MFM
2 DF Benjamin Fredrick (2005-05-28) 28 May 2005 (age 19)60 Flag of England.svg Brentford B
2 DF Daniel Bameyi (2006-01-04) 4 January 2006 (age 19)50 Flag of Nigeria.svg Yumyum
2 DF Abel Ogwuche (2003-07-06) 6 July 2003 (age 21)50 Flag of Sweden.svg Trelleborgs FF
2 DF Chimezie Njoku (2004-08-02) 2 August 2004 (age 20)40 Flag of Nigeria.svg Abia Warriors
2 DF Israel Domingo (2004-02-09) 9 February 2004 (age 21)00 Flag of Nigeria.svg FC Sports
2 DF Salim Figo Lawal (2003-01-15) 15 January 2003 (age 22)00 Flag of Nigeria.svg Mavlon

3 MF Samson Lawal (2004-04-25) 25 April 2004 (age 20)61 Flag of Scotland.svg Livingston
3 MF Daniel Daga (2007-01-10) 10 January 2007 (age 18)10 Flag of Nigeria.svg Dakkada
3 MF Ibrahim Abdullahi (2005-10-17) 17 October 2005 (age 19)00 Flag of Nigeria.svg Samba
3 MF Victor Eletu (2005-04-01) 1 April 2005 (age 19)00 Flag of Italy.svg Milan
3 MF Joshua John (2004-01-18) 18 January 2004 (age 21)00 Flag of Nigeria.svg Nasarawa United
3 MF Tochukwu Nadi (2003-06-30) 30 June 2003 (age 21)00 Flag of Bulgaria.svg Botev Plovdiv

4 FW Jude Sunday (2004-10-04) 4 October 2004 (age 20)62 Flag of Nigeria.svg Real Sapphire
4 FW Ibrahim Beji Muhammad (2004-02-03) 3 February 2004 (age 21)62 Flag of Nigeria.svg Giants
4 FW Rilwanu Sarki (2004-02-02) 2 February 2004 (age 21)60 Flag of Nigeria.svg Mahanaim
4 FW Umeh Emmanuel (2004-08-31) 31 August 2004 (age 20)00 Flag of Bulgaria.svg Botev Plovdiv
4 FW Kehinde Ibrahim (2006-01-15) 15 January 2006 (age 19)00 Flag of Nigeria.svg 36 Lion

Former coaches

References

  1. www.premiumtimesng.com https://www.premiumtimesng.com/sports/football/730928-nff-appoints-aliyu-zubairu-as-flying-eagles-head-coach.html?tztc=1 . Retrieved 27 January 2025.{{cite web}}: Missing or empty |title= (help)
  2. "Flying Eagles squad for 2023 FIFA World Cup in Argentina". The NFF - Twitter. Retrieved 16 May 2023.

Head-to-head record

The following table shows Nigeria's head-to-head record in the FIFA U-20 World Cup.