Nigeria's Flying Eagles may have fallen short of continental glory at the 2025 TotalEnergies CAF U-20 Africa Cup of Nations in Egypt, but captain Daniel Bameyi has emerged as a shining light for the West African giants, Soccernet.ng reports .
The 19-year-old Bayelsa United centre-back was the only Nigerian named in the tournament's official Best XI, as revealed by CAF's Technical Study Group TSG.
Bameyi earned his place after a string of outstanding performances that helped Nigeria secure third place in the competition.
Bameyi featured in every minute of Nigeria's six matches, anchoring the defence with maturity beyond his years. Under his leadership, the Flying Eagles kept three clean sheets and conceded only three goals - one of the best defensive records at the tournament.
Nigeria: Flying Eagles captain Daniel Bameyi named in U-20 AFCON 2025 Best XIThough Nigeria's attack faltered in Egypt, with no player contributing more than a single goal or assist, Bameyi's consistent defensive dominance ensured the team left with a bronze medal and their pride intact.