The Nigerian men's national under-20 football team represents Nigeria in men's international football also known as the Nigeria Under-20s or nicknamed the Flying Eagles. The Flying Eagles is the youth team for the national soccer in Nigeria. It plays a large role in the development of Nigerian football, and is considered the feeder team for the senior team. It is controlled by the Nigerian Football Federation. The team has won a record seven African U-20 Cup of Nations titles and are also two-times runners-up of the FIFA U-20 World Cup.
Competitive record
FIFA U-20 World Cup record FIFA U-20 World Cup recordYearRoundPldWD*LGFGA 1977Did not qualify 1979 1981 1983Group stage311113 1985Third place631287 1987Group stage301228 1989Runners-up6222910 1991Did not qualify 1993 1995 1997 1999Quarter-finals512267 2001Did not qualify 2003 2005Runners-up7322105 2007Quarter-finals531155 2009Round of 16410376 2011Quarter-finals5401155 2013Round of 16420275 2015420285 2017Did not qualify 2019Round of 16411265 2023Quarter-finals530264 2025Round of 16411248 2027To be determinedTotal14/24652712269483
Africa U-20 Cup of Nations record Africa U-20 Cup of NationsYearRoundPositionGPWD*LGSGA1977Did not enter1979Semi-finalists3rd4121431981Semi-finalists3rd4103781983Champions1st85121371985Champions1st84221481987Champions1st86111191989Champions1st8530166 1991Did not enter 1993Group stage5th310222 1995Third place3rd531186 1997Did not qualify 1999Second place2nd5311115 2001Group stage8th301216 2003Did not qualify 2005Champions1st5500113 2007Second place2nd521266 2009Third place3rd530285 2011Champions1st540194 2013Third place3rd530265 2015Champions1st5401124 2017Did not qualify 2019Fourth place4th521241 2021Did not qualify 2023Third place3rd640282Total18/237 titles9756142715190 A gold background colour indicates that Nigeria won the tournament.
*Draws include knockout matches decided on penalty kicks.
*There was no third place match from 1979-1989.
Team honours and achievements Intercontinental FIFA U-20 World Cup Runners-up: 1989, 2005 Third-place: 1985
Continental Africa U-20 Cup of Nations Winners: 1980, 1985, 1987, 1989, 2005, 2011, 2015 Runners-up: 1999, 2007 Third-place: 1979, 1981, 1995, 2009, 2013, 2023 Football at the African Games Silver medal: 2019 Sub-Continental WAFU U-20 Silver: 2018 Quarterfinals: 2008
Staff Head Coach: Aliyu Zubairu First Assistant Coach: Usman Garba Suleiman Second Assistant Coach: Emeka Uzoma Scout: Hubert Okeke Goalkeepers' Trainer: Babajide Adegoke
Current squad The following players were named in the squad for the 2025 U-20 Africa Cup of Nations, to be played 27 April – 18 May 2025.
Former coaches Christopher Udemezue (1 July 1982 – 30 June 1987/1988) Paul Hamilton (1 July 1985 – 30 June 1986) Olatunde Nurudeen Disu (1987–1997) Thijs Libregts (1 July 1998 – 30 June 1999) Samson Siasia (1 January 2005 – 26 March 2007; 30 June 2009) Ladan Bosso (2007–2009) John Obuh (1 July 2010 – 1 February 2013) Emmanuel Amunike (1 July 2014 – 1 November 2017) Paul Aigbogun (1 January 2019 – 30 June 2020) Ladan Bosso (2020 - 2024)
Head-to-head record The following table shows Nigeria's head-to-head record in the FIFA U-20 World Cup.
OpponentWin %Total
References