XIV

Nigeria Under-20

Nickname(s)	Flying Eagles
Association	Nigeria Football Association
Confederation	CAF (Africa)
Sub-confederation	WAFU (West Africa)
Head coach	Mitchell Adebanjo
Home stadium	Agege Stadium
FIFA code	NGA
First colours Second colours
FIFA U-20 World Cup
Appearances	12 (first in 1981)
Best result	Runners-up (1989, 2005)
Africa U-20 Cup of Nations
Appearances	18 (first in 1978–79)
Best result	Champions (1983, 1985, 1987, 1989, 2005, 2011, 2015)
WAFU Zone B U-20 Tournament
Appearances	3 (first in 2018)
Best result	Champions (2022)

The Nigerian men's national under-20 football team represents Nigeria in men's international football also known as the——Nigeria Under-20s/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.

Competitive record※

FIFA U-20 World Cup record※

• • 1983 - Group stage
  • 1985 - Third place
  • 1987 - Group stage
  • 1989 - Runners-up
  • 1999 - Quarter-finals
  • 2005 - Runners-up
  • 2007 - Quarter-finals
  • 2009 - Round of 16
  • 2011 - Quarter-finals
  • 2013 - Round of 16
  • 2015 - Round of 16
  • 2019 - Round of 16
  • 2023 - Quarter-finals

Africa U-20 Cup of Nations record※

Africa U-20 Cup of Nations
Year	Round	Position	GP	W	D*	L	GS	GA
1977	Did not enter
1979	Semi-finalists	3rd	4	1	2	1	4	3
1981	Semi-finalists	3rd	4	1	0	3	7	8
1983	Champions	1st	8	5	1	2	13	7
1985	Champions	1st	8	4	2	2	14	8
1987	Champions	1st	8	6	1	1	11	9
1989	Champions	1st	8	5	3	0	16	6
1991	Did not enter
1993	Group stage	5th	3	1	0	2	2	2
1995	Third place	3rd	5	3	1	1	8	6
1997	Did not qualify
1999	Second place	2nd	5	3	1	1	11	5
2001	Group stage	8th	3	0	1	2	1	6
2003	Did not qualify
2005	Champions	1st	5	5	0	0	11	3
2007	Second place	2nd	5	2	1	2	6	6
2009	Third place	3rd	5	3	0	2	8	5
2011	Champions	1st	5	4	0	1	9	4
2013	Third place	3rd	5	3	0	2	6	5
2015	Champions	1st	5	4	0	1	12	4
2017	Did not qualify
2019	Fourth place	4th	5	2	1	2	4	1
2021	Did not qualify
2023	Third place	3rd	6	4	0	2	8	2
Total	18/23	7 titles	97	56	14	27	151	90

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

• FIFA U-20 World Cup
  • Runners-up: 1989, 2005
  • Third-place: 1985

Continental

• Africa U-20 Cup of Nations
  • Winners: 1980, 1985, 1987, 1989, 2005, 2011, 2015
  • Runners-up: 1999, 2007
  • Third-place: 1979, 1981, 1995, 2009, 2013, 2023
• Football at the African Games
  • Silver medal: 2019

Sub-Continental

• WAFU U-20
  • Silver: 2018
  • Quarterfinals: 2008

Staff※

• Head Coach: Mitchell Adebanjo
• First Assistant Coach: Usman Garba Suleiman
• Second Assistant Coach: Emeka Uzoma
• Scout: Hubert Okeke
• Goalkeepers' Trainer: Babajide Adegoke

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."

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

No.	Pos.	Player	Date of birth (age)	Caps	Goals	Club
	1GK	Chijioke Aniagboso	(2004-04-15) 15 April 2004 (age 20)	5	0	Polissya Zhytomyr
	1GK	Nathaniel Nwosu	(2006-01-10) 10 January 2006 (age 18)	1	0	Water
	1GK	John Utoblo	(2003-07-05) 5 July 2003 (age 21)	0	0	Mavlon
	2DF	Solomon Agbalaka	(2003-11-09) 9 November 2003 (age 20)	6	1	MFM
	2DF	Benjamin Fredrick	(2005-05-28) 28 May 2005 (age 19)	6	0	Brentford B
	2DF	Daniel Bameyi	(2006-01-04) 4 January 2006 (age 18)	5	0	Yumyum
	2DF	Abel Ogwuche	(2003-07-06) 6 July 2003 (age 21)	5	0	Trelleborgs FF
	2DF	Chimezie Njoku	(2004-08-02) 2 August 2004 (age 19)	4	0	Abia Warriors
	2DF	Israel Domingo	(2004-02-09) 9 February 2004 (age 20)	0	0	FC Sports
	2DF	Salim Figo Lawal	(2003-01-15) 15 January 2003 (age 21)	0	0	Mavlon
	3MF	Samson Lawal	(2004-04-25) 25 April 2004 (age 20)	6	1	Livingston
	3MF	Daniel Daga	(2007-01-10) 10 January 2007 (age 17)	1	0	Dakkada
	3MF	Ibrahim Abdullahi	(2005-10-17) 17 October 2005 (age 18)	0	0	Samba
	3MF	Victor Eletu	(2005-04-01) 1 April 2005 (age 19)	0	0	Milan
	3MF	Joshua John	(2004-01-18) 18 January 2004 (age 20)	0	0	Nasarawa United
	3MF	Tochukwu Nadi	(2003-06-30) 30 June 2003 (age 21)	0	0	Botev Plovdiv
	4FW	Jude Sunday	(2004-10-04) 4 October 2004 (age 19)	6	2	Real Sapphire
	4FW	Ibrahim Beji Muhammad	(2004-02-03) 3 February 2004 (age 20)	6	2	Giants
	4FW	Rilwanu Sarki	(2004-02-02) 2 February 2004 (age 20)	6	0	Mahanaim
	4FW	Umeh Emmanuel	(2004-08-31) 31 August 2004 (age 19)	0	0	Botev Plovdiv
	4FW	Kehinde Ibrahim	(2006-01-15) 15 January 2006 (age 18)	0	0	36 Lion

Former coaches※

• Christopher Udemezue (July 1, 1982 – June 30, 1987/1988)
• Paul Hamilton (July 1, 1985 – June 30, 1986)
• Olatunde Nurudeen Disu (1987–1997)
• Thijs Libregts (July 1, 1998 – June 30, 1999)
• Samson Siasia (January 1, 2005 – March 26, 2007; June 30, 2009)
• Ladan Basso (2007–2009)
• John Obuh (July 1, 2010 – February 1, 2013)
• Emmanuel Amunike (July 1, 2014 – November 1, 2017)
• Paul Aigbogun (January 1, 2019 – June 30, 2020)

References※