Flying Eagles player ratings v Kenya: Cletus influential, Arierhi lives up to the hype, Bameyi delivers

The Flying Eagles of Nigeria booked their spot in the next phase of the ongoing 2025 CAF U-20 AFCON following their hard-fought 2-2 draw on Wednesday, at the 30 June Stadium in Cairo.

The starters

Goalkeeper

Ebenezer Ifeanyi Harcourt: Harcourt was largely untroubled for most of the game, but when called into action, he was reliable. His handling was secure, and he communicated well with the defense. 6/10

Defenders

Adamu Maigari: Maigari was solid defensively, although there were moments when he was caught out of position. He showed resilience but could have offered more going forward.6/10

Daniel  Bameyi: The captain was a stabilizing force at the back. Bameyi marshaled the defense well and showed great leadership, ensuring the backline remained organized throughout the game. Rescued a point by converting a penalty. 7/10

Emmanuel Chukwu: Chukwu had a quiet but effective game. While he was generally defensively sound, he lacked the aggression needed in some key moments, allowing the opposition to build some pressure.  5.5/10

Odinaka Emmanuel Okoro: Okoro was fairly consistent defensively, but his decision-making in critical areas left much to be desired. He also struggled to contribute significantly in attack.  5.5/10

Midfielders and forwards

Israel Ayuma: Ayuma was a workhorse in midfield, breaking up opposition attacks and distributing the ball well. His energy was evident, though he sometimes lacked the precision to create clear chances. 7/10

Auwal Ibrahim: Ibrahim was replaced early in the second half but showed promise in his brief outing. He was solid defensively but didn't manage to make a lasting impact going forward. 6/10

Simon Cletus: Cletus was one of the standout players, linking up play well and showing great vision. His passing was crisp, and he was key in moving the ball forward. 8/10

Clinton Degol Jephta: Jephta struggled to make his mark on the game. His movement was limited, and he found it difficult to get into dangerous positions. His substitution came as no surprise.  5/10

Kparobo Arierhi: Touted as one to watch at the U20 Afcon, Lillestrom starlet Arierhi was lively throughout the match, using his pace and skill to trouble the opposition defense. His positioning was good, and he created a few chances.  7/10

Ezekiel Kpangu: Kpangu had a quiet performance. He worked hard but was unable to create many clear opportunities, and his final touch let him down on a few occasions.6/10

The substitutes

Suleiman Alabi: Alabi replaced Ibrahim in the 61st minute and added energy to the midfield. While he didn’t have a massive impact, his work rate was noticeable.6/10

Rickson Mendos: Coming on for Kpangu in the 61st minute, Kpanju brought pace and directness to the attack but struggled to make a decisive impact.  6/10

Chigozie Ihejiofor: Ihejiofor replaced Maigari in the 64th minute but didn’t offer much in the way of improvement defensively or offensively. 5/10

Tahir Magana: Magana, coming on for Jephta in the 76th minute, added a bit of flair but didn’t have enough time to make a meaningful difference. 5/10

Devine Olise: Olise came on in the 76th minute for Simon Cletus but had limited involvement and could not influence the game significantly.4/10

Wale Adejumo

Copyright ANS
All rights reserved. This material, and other digital content on this website, may not be reproduced, published, rewritten or redistributed in whole or in part without prior express written permission from allnigeriasoccer.com