At the 2025 Africa Under-20 Cup of Nations in Ivory Coast, Flying Eagles head coach Aliyu Zubairu has articulated optimism about his team’s chances of succeeding in the difficult group.
Morocco, Egypt, and South Africa, three dominant nations in North Africa, will be the Flying Eagles’ opponents.
The competition is set for April 26–May 18 and is expected to be a major test for the Nigerian young team. But according to Zubairu, this difficult draw can present a worthwhile chance for improvement.
The draw is promising. A squad should welcome every challenge if they want to make it to the FIFA World Cup. We are in a great position to compete against South Africa, Egypt, and Morocco at this point. I consider it fortunate,” Zubairu said.
While addressing worries about being in a supposedly “group of death,” the coach emphasized how African football is changing.
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“We ought to no longer refer to this as a “group of death.” Small teams no longer exist in African football. The emphasis should be on preparation because, if they are prepared, even lesser-known countries may achieve amazing things,” he said.
The Nigeria Football Federation has started a 30-man training camp in preparation for the continental championship.
Two friendlies versus the Egyptian Under-20 squad are also planned for February 25 and 27 in Cairo. During these warm-up games, Zubairu will have a great opportunity to assess his team against a rival in their group.
