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
Africa U-20 Cup of Nations record
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
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
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 â 18 May 2025.
Former coaches
- Christopher Udemezue (July 1, 1982 â June 30, 1987/1988)
- Paul Hamilton (July 1, 1985 â June 30, 1986)
- Olatunde Nurudeen Disu (1987âÂÂ1997)
- Thijs Libregts (July 1, 1998 â June 30, 1999)
- Samson Siasia (January 1, 2005 â March 26, 2007; June 30, 2009)
- Ladan Bosso (2007âÂÂ2009)
- John Obuh (July 1, 2010 â February 1, 2013)
- Emmanuel Amunike (July 1, 2014 â November 1, 2017)
- Paul Aigbogun (January 1, 2019 â June 30, 2020)
- Ladan Bosso (2020 - 2024)
References
Head-to-head record
The following table shows Nigeria's head-to-head record in the FIFA U-20 World Cup.