The U20 team of Nigeria will begin their campaign at the U20 AFCON on Thursday when they take on Tunisia in their first group game of the tournament which started yesterday.
Coached by Aliyu Zubairu, the Nigerian team who are the regional champions after lifting the WAFU B tournament last year will be targeting a semi final spot which seals a place at the U20 World Cup.
Zubairu picked 24 players for tournament which will see them play in groups B with Tunisia, Kenya and Morocco. Below are the top five players picked by our head of editorial Mohammed Mowiz Suleiman.
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Kparobo Arierhi – Scored the two goals over Ghana in the final of the WAFU tournament. Since moved to Norwegian side Lillestrom where he has developed further. They call him the new Osimhen.
Bidemi Amole – Rated as one of the brightest prospects in Nigerian football after his exceptional performance at the Gothia Cup in Sweden last year, where he powered Sporting Lagos to the trophy. He is a technically gifted forward with a good dribble and balance, he is armed with a powerful shot and also knows his way to goal.
Ebenezer Harcourt – Became first choice goalkeeper at the WAFU tournament after the first game at the age of 15. He won’t be 16 until October but he is fully established as the team’s top man in goal and also one of the stars of the team heading to the AFCON.
Divine Oliseh – Stole the show in the test game against the former host of the tournament Cote d’Ivoire with a brace and hasn’t looked out of place since then. He followed it up with an assist and won a penalty in a recent 2-1 win over Egypt in another friendly. Expected to be key in their quest to win the tournament.
Emmanuel Chukwu – Signed by German side Hoffenheim in March from Nigerian side Grassrunner FC. The defender has wasted no time in making himself a key member of the back four expected to shut out opponents in the tournament.
