Nigeria’s U-20 men’s football team, the Flying Eagles, have been granted a break from training following their recent activities, the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) confirmed on Tuesday.
The squad, preparing for the Africa U-20 Cup of Nations (AFCON) in Cote d’Ivoire later this year, was released after concluding a screening exercise for new players last week.
Head Coach Aliyu Zubairu supervised the trials, which saw 35 players invited to camp following the team’s qualification in December 2024.
The Flying Eagles secured their spot in the 13-team tournament with a 5-2 aggregate victory over Ghana in the WAFU B U-20 Championship final.
The NFF stated that the break allows players to rest before resuming preparations for the competition, scheduled from July 14-26, 2025, across three Ivorian cities. An NFF official said, “The boys have worked hard to qualify. This break is well-deserved, and we’ll regroup soon to build on our momentum.”
The team aims to reclaim the U-20 AFCON title, last won in 2011, after finishing third in the 2023 edition in Egypt. No specific date for the camp’s resumption was announced, but sources suggest it will be later this month.
The Flying Eagles’ qualification run included a 4-1 win over Ghana in Abuja, reversing a 1-0 semi-final loss to the same opponent earlier in the WAFU tournament.
Cote d’Ivoire, as hosts, will face stiff competition, with Nigeria among the favorites following their strong showing.
