By Fresh Facts Sports Desk
As the 2025 U-20 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) kicks off in Egypt, Flying Eagles head coach, Aliyu Zubairu, has emphasized that Nigeria’s top priority is to secure qualification for the FIFA U-20 World Cup in Chile.
Speaking to NFF TV ahead of their opening fixture, Zubairu made it clear that while the ultimate dream may be lifting the trophy, the immediate focus remains on reaching the semi-final stage—an achievement that guarantees a spot at the global tournament.
“Our first target now is to get the ticket to the World Cup,” he said. “We wouldn’t want to put too much pressure on the boys that they must win the trophy. When we get to the semi-final stage, we will sit them down again and talk about winning the title, but for now, it’s all about qualifying.”
With four World Cup slots up for grabs at the U-20 AFCON, every match in both the group stage and knockout rounds carries immense weight. Nigeria, who last won the continental crown in 2015, enter the tournament as one of the favourites, buoyed by a strong pedigree and consistent showings in recent competitions.
The Flying Eagles are set to begin their campaign against Tunisia on Thursday at the June 30 Stadium in Cairo. Zubairu expressed confidence in his team’s preparation, highlighting a rigorous training journey that took them across multiple cities in Nigeria before arriving in Egypt.
“We are very much prepared,” the coach affirmed. “We started preparation from Abuja to Katsina, then back to Abuja. Now, we are in Egypt, and the boys are ready.”
Nigeria and Tunisia share a history of competitive encounters at this level. In five previous meetings, the Flying Eagles have triumphed three times, with Tunisia recording a solitary win and one draw. Most recently, Nigeria dominated the North Africans with a 4-0 victory in the third-place match at the 2023 edition.
Still, Coach Zubairu remains cautious about relying on history.
“There is no pressure from any angle. Our win over Tunisia two years ago is a big motivation, even though you don’t dwell too much on the past,” he noted. “It’s going to be a different scenario now. They are two different teams, even though they’re representing the same country. That past victory will serve only as a motivational factor, not a guarantee.”
With their eyes firmly on the World Cup prize, the are taking it one match at a time. For Zubairu and his charges, it’s a journey of focus, discipline, and belief.
