By Daily Sports Nigeria on May 1, 2025

Nigeria’s Flying Eagles claimed a fifth U-20 AFCON trophy in 2005 in Benin and then used that as a springboard to the maiden FIFA U-20 World Cup where a Lionel Messi-inspired Argentina denied the West Africans the title in Utrecht. That golden generation of young Nigerians’ legacy has faded but ahead of the 2025 U-20 AFCON, a new wave of Eagles reborn attempt to replicate such heights twenty years later, OLAMIDE ABE writes.

It began with glory. In 2005, Nigeria’s Flying Eagles soared to the pinnacle of African youth football, clinching the U-20 Africa Cup of Nations in Benin Republic.

With a squad bursting with talent—Taye Taiwo, Isaac Promise, and Victor Obinna among them—they swept through the competition, blending flair with grit to secure Nigeria’s fifth continental title. The triumph didn’t just earn silverware—it lit a fuse of national expectation.

The 2005 U-20 side then brought in Mikel Obi and Sani Kaita, all of whom were expected to dominate the senior national team for years to come. However, of the 153 players who have represented Nigeria at the U-20 continental level since then, only 45 graduated to the Super Eagles, and most made only fleeting appearances.

Despite the early promise, most of these U-20 players made their senior appearances mainly in friendly matches, Olympic tournaments, or as part of the Super Eagles B team. Only a meagre 14 players transitioned from U-20 AFCON representation to featuring in a major senior tournament, such as AFCON and FIFA World Cup.

A closer look reveals an even more startling reality, only eight of these players earned more than ten caps for the Super Eagles. Ahmed Musa who is the country’s most capped player ever leads the way with 110 appearances, followed by Elderson Echiéjilé (59 caps), Taye Taiwo (54 caps), Victor Obinna (46 caps), Abdullahi Shehu (41 caps), Daniel Akpeyi (19 caps), Onyekachi Apam (14 caps), and Gbolahan Salami (13 caps).

Individual journeys: A tale of mixed fortunes

Taye Taiwo, a standout from the 2005 set, quickly became a Super Eagles regular, earning 54 caps and starring in three AFCONs and the 2010 World Cup before fading out by 2012. Onyekachi Apam also broke through in 2005, winning silver at the 2008 Olympics and playing in the 2008 AFCON, but injuries limited him to just 14 caps. Victor Obinna had a bright start, featuring at the 2006 AFCON and captaining the 2008 Olympic team to a silver medal, though he never fully cemented his place at senior level.

Daniel Akpeyi spent most of his national team career as a backup, with his only standout spell coming at the 2019 AFCON. Elderson Echiéjilé, from the 2007 side, earned 59 caps, winning the 2013 AFCON win and playing the 2014 World Cup.

Ahmed Musa, the most successful graduate from the U-20s, became the first Nigerian to score in two FIFA World Cup competitions while captaining the team in other major tournaments. Nwankwo Obiora and Lukman Haruna, both from 2009, had early promise but fell short, Obiora earned 17 caps, while Haruna played at the 2010 World Cup before fading. Michael Uchebo and Ramón Azeez, part of the 2014 World Cup squad, also failed to establish long-term international careers.

Uche Nwofor impressed briefly during the 2014 World Cup qualifiers but quickly dropped out of contention. Abdullahi Shehu has been a useful squad player since 2013, with 41 caps across several roles. Taiwo Awoniyi, from the 2015 squad, is only now breaking into the Super Eagles setup. Olorunleke Ojo, another 2015 graduate, made Nigeria’s AFCON 2023 squad without a senior cap, the only NPFL player in the team.

A golden set: The 2005 graduates

The 2005 AFCON-winning generation produced more senior national team players than any subsequent Flying Eagles team. Out of the squad, 10 players transitioned to the senior national setup, including Taye Taiwo, Victor Obinna, and Daniel Akpeyi.

Goalkeeper Ambruse Vanzekin captained Nigeria to Olympic silver in 2008 but never made a strong club impact, spending most of his career in the Nigerian league. Kennedy Chinwo and Monday James both earned only two caps each before fading from the scene due to form and injuries. Promise, once a prolific youth striker, managed just six senior caps before his tragic passing in 2019. Solomon Okoronkwo featured three times for the Super Eagles but struggled for consistency in Europe. Olubayo Adefemi had four caps to his name before his life was cut short in a car accident in 2011. Dele Adeleye, another highly rated defender, made eight appearances but injuries hampered his momentum after a promising start.

The downward trend

After the 2005 generation, no Flying Eagles team has produced as many senior national team regulars. The 2013 and 2011 squads each yielded seven Super Eagles players, while 2015 produced six. More recently, the 2019 and 2023 squads have only managed to deliver three and two senior internationals respectively, a stark sign of the country’s dwindling standards.

This decline has been mirrored in performances at the U-20 level as the Flying Eagles failed to qualify for the AFCON in 2017 and 2021, and though they reached the quarter-finals at the 2023 FIFA U-20 World Cup, expectations remain largely unmet compared to the lofty heights of early 21st century.

A new dawn?

As the 2025 U-20 AFCON kicks off for Nigeria on Thursday (today) in Cairo, Flying Eagles once again stand at the threshold of history. They arrive boasting an illustrious past, being the competition’s most successful side with seven titles (1983, 1985, 1987, 1989, 2005, 2011, and 2015), and fresh momentum from their WAFU Zone B Championship victory.

Led by head coach Aliyu Zubairu, who favours an adventurous 4-3-3 formation, the team is packed with rousing talents such as Kparobo Arierhi, Daniel Bameyi, and Nathaniel Nwosu. Their qualification campaign was brilliant, as they overcame an early setback to edge Ghana in a dramatic final.

Grouped alongside Morocco, Kenya, and Tunisia, the road to another continental title will not be easy. The minimum aim will be to reach the semi-finals and qualify for the FIFA U-20 World Cup, but the ultimate goal remains reclaiming their status atop African youth football.

So, today is not just the start of another tournament, it is an opportunity to finally begin fulfilling the dream that has remained elusive for two decades. Whether they can rise to the occasion remains to be seen, but for Nigerian football fans, the hope endures.

Source Punch Ng

Posted May 1, 2025

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