Nigeria will on Thursday launch their campaign for an eighth Africa U20 title when the Flying Eagles file out against the Junior Carthage Eagles of Tunisia at the 30 June Stadium in Cairo, in the opening match of Group B.

Forty years ago, the boys from Carthage were the victims as the Flying Eagles won the second of their seven African titles, in the era when the winner was decided over two legs. With both teams already qualified for the FIFA World Youth Championship (now FIFA U20 World Cup) finals in then USSR, Nigeria forced a 1-1 draw with their hosts in Tunis, and then won a close-fought return leg 2-1 at the National Stadium, Surulere.

Two years ago, the Carthage Eagles again bowed to the Eagles from West Africa in the third-place match of the U20 AFCON, also hosted by Egypt. It ended 4-0 against the North Africans.

Head Coach Aliyu Zubairu and his charges understand that they must take it one match at a time as they aspire for glory, with Cup holders Senegal (who head Group C), hosts Egypt (who head Group A) and four-time winners Ghana (in Group C) also in the hunt for honours.

Four-time champions Egypt (winners in 1981, 1991, 2003 and 2013) already pocketed three points from their opening match against South Africa on Sunday, while Zambia and Sierra Leone fought themselves to a scoreless draw.

Ghana have their work cut out in Group C, where they must negotiate survival with title-holders Senegal, a Central African Republic side that eliminated Cameroon, and the nifty Democratic Republic of Congo.

Nigeria must beware of the host nation, even though the Flying Eagles pipped the Egyptians 1-0 in a group phase match in Cairo two years ago. The only Final matches Nigeria have lost since the competition transformed from home-and-away format to a tournament were against host nations – against Ghana in Accra in 1999 and against Congo in Brazzaville eight years later. On the reverse, Nigeria defeated hosts Senegal in the Final in 2015.

Ghana were champions in 1993, 1999 (as hosts), 2009 (when they won in Rwanda) and 2021. Cameroon, who are not in Egypt, won their only title when Nigeria hosted the competition in 1995.

After Thursday’s shootout with the Junior Carthage Eagles, the seven-time champions will be up against 1997 hosts and winners Morocco, also at the 30 June Stadium.

Zubairu is excited that his boys are riding on immense psychological wavelengths after a 2-1 defeat of host nation Egypt in a friendly match at the Cairo International Stadium on Tuesday – barely 48 hours after the delegation landed in Cairo.

“That result has provided a good impetus for us as we prepare to face the Tunisians – another North African opposition. You need a result like that when you’re preparing for a competition like this. It does not mean that we will rest on our oars; it only serves to give us much-needed confidence and ginger us to face our challenges better.

“We will go for the maximum points against the Tunisians and then take it one step at a time as we forge ahead.”

Kparobo Arierhi, who scored three goals at the WAFU B U20 Championship and netted the first goal against Egypt on Tuesday, Germany-based Precious Benjamin and home-boys Clinton Jephta and Divine Oliseh are the key foremen that Zubairu will be hoping to deliver against each and every opposition.  

Tunisia did not originally qualify for these finals, but sneaked through after original hosts Cote d’Ivoire pulled the rug on the Confederation of African Football with only weeks to the opening match.

All four semi-finalists at the tournament will qualify to fly Africa’s flag at this year’s FIFA U20 World Cup finals in Chile, 27^th September – 19^th October.

24 FLYING EAGLES AT EGYPT 2025:

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)

GROUP A: Egypt, South Africa, Sierra Leone, Zambia, Tanzania

GROUP B: Nigeria, Tunisia, Morocco, Kenya

GROUP C: Senegal, Central African Republic, DR Congo, Ghana

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FXTM Academy recently gathered cycling enthusiasts from across the nation for an exhilarating charity cycling event.

On Saturday, 19th April, the competition attracted 200 participants from cities including Port Harcourt, Ilorin, Ibadan, Abeokuta, and Lagos, showcasing a strong spirit of sportsmanship and community engagement.

The event featured six categories—Professional Male, Professional Female, Junior Male, Junior Female, Veteran Male, and Veteran Female—providing opportunities for cyclists of all skill levels to compete. Registration commenced at 6:30 am, and the race began at 8:00 a.m., with Juniors completing 10 laps, Veterans tackling 14, and Professionals racing an impressive 20 laps, each lap spanning 2.8 kilometres.

Impressive Prizes for Top Performers

Participants vied for significant cash prizes, with winners in the Professional categories receiving ₦800,000, ₦500,000, ₦300,000, and ₦200,000, respectively, for the top four positions. Cyclists finishing in 5th to 15th places were also rewarded with ₦50,000 each.

In the Junior Male and Female categories, the top three spots earned ₦200,000, ₦100,000, and ₦50,000, respectively. Veteran winners took home ₦500,000, ₦300,000, and ₦200,000 for 1st, 2nd, and 3rd positions respectively.

A Celebration of Sportsmanship and Unity

Participants and spectators praised FXTM Academy for organising an event that fostered unity and provided a platform for cyclists to showcase their talents.

Many attendees expressed gratitude for the opportunity to take part in such a well-organised and inclusive competition, eagerly anticipating future events.

The event also highlighted FXTM Academy’s commitment to empowering communities and promoting similar values that also align with cycling, which are perseverance, discipline, endurance and continuous improvement.

Looking Ahead

With its outstanding success, this charity cycling event has established a new benchmark for community-focused initiatives in Nigeria.

 FXTM Academy’s dedication to blending sport, charity, and empowerment has left a lasting impact, inspiring many to look forward to our future events

The Country Representative, Kelechi Ehibudu said: “FXTM Academy wants to empower communities and promote similar values that also align with cycling which are perseverance, discipline, endurance and continuous improvement.”

For more information about FXTM Academy’s initiatives, visit their official website or follow their social media channels

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Another Lagos club, 1472 FC, has been thrown out of Nigeria’s second-tier league, the Nigeria National League, for failure to honour three matches in the current season.

Crowd-pulling Stationery Stores suffered a similar fate 32 years ago when they were expelled from the Nigeria Professional League.

In a press release on Tuesday, the NFF announced that 1472 FC did not honour three matches during the current season.

The matches were against Abia Comets (Match 9), Dakkada FC (Match 53) and Ijele FC (Match 74).

 The NNL relied on the league’s Article 14.11 to expel the club.

In the letter signed by the NNL’s Chief Operating Officer, Danlami Alanana, 1472 FC are also fined the sum of N5 million, with the consequence that the results of all their played matches have been nullified, and those yet to be played are cancelled.

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