The U20 Africa Cup of Nation scheduled for next month in Niger Republic will have team Captain Ikouwem Udo Utin and forwards Yahaya Nazifi and Effiom Maxwell playing for Nigeria’s U20.
At the African Nations Championship in Morocco last year, Enyimba FC wingback Utin won a silver medal while youth sensation Nazifi recently signed contract with a Danish club and Maxwell was Man-of-the-Match in the 4-2 defeat of Ghana’s Black Satellites at the WAFU U20 Cup Tournament in Togo last month.
The list has however been tendered to the Confederation of African Football.
Goalkeepers Detan Ogundare, Akpan Udoh and Olawale Oremade, as well as defender Mike Zaruma, midfielders Peter Eletu, Quadri Liameed and Aniekeme Okon, and forwards Adeshina Gata and Ibrahim Abubakar has also been incorporated by Aigbogun .
Defender Valentine Ozornwafor, who plays for Enyimba International FC of Aba, midfielder Jamil Muhammad of Kano Pillars and Oasis FC forward Ibrahim Aliyu have also been included in the Nigeria squad.
The seven-time African champions will be buoyed by three foreign-based professionals, Igoh Ogbu of Rosenburg FC of Norway, Afeez Aremu of IK Stat FC, also in Norway and Denmark –based Nazifi.
The Flying Eagles will play South Africa on Tuesday, 5th February before tangling with Niger Republic on Friday, 8th February in their final match of the group phase.
