As the 2025 U-20 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) tournament draws near, Nigeria’s U-20 squad finds itself in hot water—not for its performance on the pitch, but for growing allegations of age cheating that have surfaced just before the kickoff.
Whistleblowers and sources within the Nigerian Football Federation (NFF) are casting doubt on the authenticity of some players’ ages, claiming that several members of the squad may be well beyond the supposed age limit of 20. Reports have emerged of questionable documentation, with one source citing a birth certificate written in "erasable ink" and another claiming a player’s ID card listed a birth date "around the turn of the century."
Despite the uproar, NFF officials continue to stand by the team’s youth credentials. An NFF spokesperson, when asked about the allegations, responded: "These players are definitely under 20, though some of them just look... exceptionally mature, you know, very experienced for their age."
Suspicion has only deepened with reports of a player allegedly discussing the challenges of balancing football with fatherhood, while another was overheard reminiscing about playing alongside legendary Nigerian midfielder Jay-Jay Okocha. Even more eyebrow-raising, a few players have reportedly been seen with children in the stands during training sessions.
Though the team has yet to take the field, Nigeria’s U-20 squad is already facing a storm of scrutiny as tournament organizers prepare to investigate these age discrepancies. A CAF official, speaking on condition of anonymity, said, "We haven’t even kicked the ball yet, but this situation is already something we need to take seriously."
With the pressure mounting, the NFF and Nigeria’s U-20 squad are set to face an intense investigation, which could overshadow their tournament campaign before they’ve even played a single match.
