One to Watch: 15-Year-Old Star Makes History With the Super Eagles
- Coach Eric Chelle paraded the youngest Super Eagles player at the 2024 Africa Nations Championship in Tanzania
- Nigeria beat Congo 2-0, goals coming from Anas Yusuf and Sikiru Alimi to record their first victory at the tournament on August 19
- The player who made his debut for the senior national team featured at the 2025 U20 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) last May
Eric Chelle made a bold decision by fielding a 15-year-old player against Congo at the 2024 Africa Nations Championship in Tanzania.
Nigeria crashed out of the tournament after suffering two defeats at the hands of the defending champions, Senegal 1-0 and Sudan 4-0.
The Super Eagles B managed to redeem their battered image, beating Les Leopards 2-0 with 2024/25 NPFL highest goal scorer Anas Yusuf and Sikiru Alimi registering their name on the score sheet.
Nigeria finished third in Group D with three points, after their runners-up position in 2018.
Source: Twitter
Who is Nigeria's youngest Super Eagles player?
Sporting Lagos Academy GK, Ebenezer Harcourt, becomes the youngest ever player to feature for the Super Eagles.
In a viral post on X, the 15-year-old replaced veteran goalkeeper Lawal Mustapha for the match against Congo, keeping a clean sheet.
Mustapha conceded five goals in two matches, giving Super Eagles coach Eric Chelle an avenue to feature Ebenezer Harcourt, who impressed the fans, per Africa Top Sports.
Nigerians react
Nigerians expressed belief that Ebenezer Harcourt will become the Super Eagles' first-choice goalkeeper if properly groomed.
A X user cautioned football fans in the country to stop labelling homegrown players, while believing foreigners whenever they specify their age.
@FemiCoolfm said:
"Before long, the young shall grow."
@Atobajaye25 added:
"Good for him to get the exposure."
@Itswunderkind wrote:
"If it’s lamine yamal you will say oyibo don’t lie their system is accurate this that bla bla at all time but never will for once believe your own or system and back it up,Continent that don’t believe in themselves who else will believe in you? Drones of japa people every year."
@Herbdulfatah247 said:
"He kept Clean sheet, his development needs to be monitored closely and the right people needs to be behind him."
Source: Twitter
Harcourt's performance at the U20 AFCON
Super Eagles goalkeeper Ebenezer Harcourt led Nigeria to a third-place finish at the 2025 U20 Africa Cup of Nations in Egypt.
According to CAF, the 15-year-old kept three clean sheets and conceded two goals in regulation time.
The Sporting Lagos goalkeeper saved two penalties in the quarterfinal against Senegal to qualify the country for the FIFA U20 World Cup in Chile.
South Africa capitalised on the absence of the goalkeeper to beat Nigeria 1-0 in the semifinal of the tournament.
Nigerians blast CAF for Man of the Match choice
Legit.ng earlier reported that Nigerians are dissatisfied with the Confederation of African Football's (CAF) selection of the Man of the Match for the game between Nigeria and Senegal.
Flying Eagles goalkeeper Ebenezer Harcourt saved two penalties during Nigeria’s U20 AFCON quarter-final match.
Source: Legit.ng
