Nigeria’s U20 Men’s National Team Head Coach, Abdu Maikaba, has officially opened the floor for the Flying Eagles’ upcoming campaign by extending invitations to 35 players. The selected squad is tasked with hit-the-ground-running preparations ahead of the regional WAFU B U20 Championship, which kicks off this July in Côte d’Ivoire.
The provisional roster features a balanced blend of domestic talent and overseas-based prospects. Maikaba’s selection is structurally broken down into three goalkeepers, ten defenders, eleven midfielders, and eleven forwards.
The coaching staff is not wasting any time, as all the invited players have been instructed to report to the team’s training camp in Abuja on Saturday, May 16, 2026, to begin intensive preparations.
The battle for the starting spots between the sticks will feature Clinton Lawani from Sporting Lagos, Abubakar Rufai who travels in from Croatia’s NK Istra 1961, and Akwa United’s Uchechukwu Aloysius.
Maikaba has defensive reinforcements covered with a ten-man backline. The invited defenders include Ayinla Olayomi of Warri Wolves, Abubakar Aliyu from Wikki Tourists, Favour Nkwocha representing Morak FC, and Wahab Bolanle Musa who plays his club football for Spain’s FC Malaga. Joining them in the defensive ranks are Bonaventure Chiemela from Inter Lagos, Gamagira Umar Suleman of Ranchers Bees, Mathias Azi Yakubu from GBS, Mutari Momoh who also plays for NK Istra 1961 in Croatia, Abdulaziz Musa Ndaman from Mavlon FC, and Ikon Allah FC’s Godwin Samuel.
The midfield department is heavily populated with creative and defensive engines. Sporting Lagos’ Victor Samuel and Warri Wolves’ Oraro Apine lead the domestic midfield call-ups alongside Sale Abdulrashid from Ukraine’s Kryubar FC. Other midfielders fighting for a permanent shirt include Sa’ad Tijjani of Barau FC, Imran Ahmad from Kano Pillars, Peres Jerem of P Sports, Ayeni Samson from Stormers FC, and Habila Simeon Sulai of GBS. The midfield list is completed by Simon Karshe Cletus from Croatia’s FC Rijeka, Auwalu Mohammed of Bichi First FC, and Ibrahim Yakubu from Turbo Touch.
Up front, the Flying Eagles have no shortage of attacking options to unpick opposition defenses. The forward line features Katsina United’s Abba Dalli, Prince Columbus from Forster Academy, and Goodluck Angel from P Sports. Adding international flavor to the attack is Imrana Mohammed from Spain’s FC Alaves, alongside domestic goal-scorers Adamu Hussaini of Barau FC, Seun Akanji and Alex Leme both from Sporting Lagos, Shamsudeen Adamu Abdullahi of Capital City FC, Ezekiel Oguchukwu from Mavlon FC, Mus’ab Suleiman of Footwork FC, and Peter Pam Davou who arrives from Czech Republic side Vitkovice.
The upcoming regional tournament carries immense weight for Coach Maikaba and his boys. Beyond regional bragging rights, the WAFU B U20 Championship serves as the crucial qualification pathway for the 2026 Africa U20 Cup of Nations, making a strong showing in Côte d’Ivoire non-negotiable for the Nigerian contingent.
