U20 Afcon Group Stage Best XI: Flying Eagles captain Bameyi and Okoro earn defensive spots

Nigeria’s Flying Eagles have earned recognition at the ongoing TotalEnergies CAF U-20 Africa Cup of Nations Egypt 2025, with defenders Odinaka Okoro and Daniel Bameyi named in the official Group Stage Best XI by the CAF Technical Study Group (TSG).

The two defenders were standouts in a solid Nigerian backline that helped the Flying Eagles reach the knockout stages.

Their inclusion highlights Nigeria’s consistent record of producing top talent at youth level and affirms the country’s status as one of Africa’s most formidable footballing nations.

Bameyi, who captained the team through the group phase, provided leadership and composure in defence, while Okoro impressed with his pace, tackling, and intelligent positioning. 

Their efforts ensured that Nigeria remained competitive in a tight group, conceding just twice in the first three matches.

The CAF TSG selected a balanced 4-3-3 formation for the Best XI, honouring players who displayed exceptional performances during the 20 matches played in the group stage.

Sierra Leone’s Momoh Kamara was the standout star, named Best Player and Top Scorer of the group stage after scoring four goals. 

Kamara also earned a place in the team’s attacking midfield role, helping debutants Sierra Leone reach the quarter-finals in their maiden U-20 AFCON appearance.

Joining the Nigerian pair in defence are Ghana’s Dacosta Antwi and Sierra Leone’s Nathaniel Jalloh, while Zambia’s Levison Banda, who won Best Goalkeeper, takes the spot between the posts.

The midfield features South Africa’s Lazola Maku and Kenya’s Kevin Wangaya alongside Kamara, while the front three consists of Zambia’s Joseph Sabobo, Morocco’s Othmane Maamma, and DR Congo’s Samuel Ntanda-Lukisa, whose two goals were crucial in his country’s qualification.

Morocco’s Mohamed Ouahbi was named Best Coach after leading his injury-depleted team to an unbeaten group stage finish. 

Ghana received the Fair Play Award for their sportsmanship and discipline.

Nigeria will now face defending champions Senegal in a high-stakes quarter-final clash on Monday for a place in the semi-finals and for one of Africa’s four tickets to the FIFA U-20 World Cup. 

With Okoro and Bameyi in top form, the Flying Eagles will be aiming to overcome the tough challenge and book their spot on the global stage.

Wale Adejumo

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