Nigeria’s Flying Eagles have landed in Chile with a clear mission to finally end the country's long wait for FIFA U20 World Cup glory.

The West African giants have reached the final twice but never lifted the trophy, a gap that a fresh crop of exciting talents will be desperate to close as they begin their campaign against Norway on Monday night.

Head coach Aliyu Zubairu has taken 21 players to South America, but as ever, a handful of standouts carry the hopes of a football-mad nation. From teenage prodigies already on the radar of European scouts to leaders hardened by continental battles, this is a squad that blends promise with grit.

Here are five Flying Eagles players who could make the difference when Nigeria take to the pitch in Talca.

Flying Eagles: Daniel Daga

At just 18, Daniel Daga already feels like a veteran of Nigeria’s youth system.

The defensive midfielder cut his teeth at FC One Rocket and Enyimba before securing a move to Molde FK in Norway, where his development has accelerated.

Daga was part of the Flying Eagles’ squad at the last U20 World Cup and brings experience few others in this group can match.

Standing 1.80m tall, he combines physicality with sharp spatial awareness, breaking up attacks and setting the tempo with calm distribution. Critics say he sometimes overcomplicates passes, but his ability to dominate the middle third could be crucial.

He joined the squad late in Chile after club commitments, but expect Zubairu to thrust him straight into action against Norway. His familiarity with Scandinavian football might just prove Nigeria’s secret weapon.

Daniel Bameyi


Every successful youth team needs a leader, and in Daniel Bameyi, Nigeria have a rock at the back.

The 19-year-old centre-half has been a near-permanent fixture since his breakthrough, captaining the Flying Eagles at the U20 AFCON earlier this year, where they boasted one of the stingiest defences in the tournament.

Now on the books of Slovenian top-flight side NK Bravo after a spell at Bayelsa United, Bameyi combines composure with fierce competitiveness. He rarely has an off day and thrives under pressure, marshalling the backline with authority well beyond his years.

If Nigeria are to withstand the physical challenge Norway are expected to pose, Bameyi’s organisation and resilience will be vital. He is the face of this squad and perhaps the most dependable pair of shoulders to carry its burden.

Arierhi Kparobo

Every Nigerian generation seems to unearth a striker destined to capture the imagination. For this side, that man is Kparobo Nathaniel Arierhi.

Just 18, he has already been christened ‘the new Victor Osimhen' thanks to his blend of raw pace, athleticism, and ruthless finishing.

Discovered at the WAFU B U17 Championship, Kparobo announced himself fully at the U20 edition, firing Nigeria to victory with a brace in the final against Ghana. Though he endured a lean patch at the U20 AFCON earlier this year, his form at club level has silenced doubts.

Since moving from Beyond Limits Academy to Lillestrom SK in February, he has been loaned to Mjondalen in Norway’s second tier, where he scored four goals in his first six appearances.

Against Norway, Kparobo will be under the spotlight. If he rises to the occasion, Nigeria could be looking at their next great No. 9.

Ebenezer Harcourt

It is hard to believe Ebenezer Harcourt is just 15.

Yet the Sporting Lagos prodigy is already Nigeria’s undisputed No. 1 at U20 level and has even broken into the Super Eagles senior team.

In August, he became the youngest Nigerian goalkeeper to keep a clean sheet at a major tournament when he featured in the African Nations Championship (CHAN).

Tall, lean, and blessed with quick reflexes, Harcourt exudes the kind of calm usually seen in seasoned professionals. He starred at the U20 AFCON, shone at the WAFU B tournament, and helped Sporting Lagos lift the Gothia Cup in Sweden last year

Word spreading quickly on the streets says Manchester United scouts are expected to watch him closely in Chile. Comparisons have already been drawn to Wojciech Szczęsny’s early Arsenal days: a commanding presence who makes the goal look small.

Achichi Oseer

While the likes of Kparobo grab headlines, Achichi Oseer could be Nigeria’s X-factor in Chile.

The 19-year-old Antwerp striker was not part of the AFCON squad earlier this year but forced his way into the World Cup team with a string of sharp performances.

He showed his ability in the warm-up friendlies, scoring in a 3-1 victory over Australia. Oseer thrives on pace, timing his runs to stretch defences and punish lapses with clinical finishing.

Nigeria struggled for goals at the U20 AFCON, scoring fewer than any other semi-finalist. Oseer has been drafted in to fix that problem, and his combination with Kparobo could be explosive.