Flying Eagles Coach Pledges to Strengthen Attack Ahead of U-20 World Cup

Flying Eagles head coach, Aliyu Zubairu, has assured fans that the team will improve its offensive play as preparations intensify for the 2025 FIFA U-20 World Cup in Chile, scheduled for September 27 to October 19.

Zubairu, who recently stepped down from his role at NPFL side El-Kanemi Warriors, guided Nigeria’s U-20 team to a third-place finish at the U-20 AFCON in Egypt earlier this year. However, concerns linger over the team’s attacking efficiency, as they managed only four goals from open play throughout the tournament.

Reflecting on their AFCON campaign, Zubairu acknowledged the need for significant improvement in front of goal. “Anyone who watched us during the AFCON would have noticed our struggles in converting chances. We had good control of most games, but finishing was clearly our weak point,” he stated.

Despite the attacking issues, Zubairu highlighted the team’s World Cup qualification as a key achievement and expressed optimism that their offensive challenges would be addressed before the tournament begins.

The Flying Eagles are drawn into Group F for the World Cup, where they will compete against Colombia, Norway, and Saudi Arabia. They kick off their campaign against Norway on September 29, followed by matches against Saudi Arabia on October 3 and Colombia on October 6.

Nigeria has a strong pedigree in the U-20 World Cup, having reached the final twice — in 1989 and 2005. Most recently, the team was eliminated in the Round of 16 by South Korea during the 2023 edition in Argentina.

With a renewed focus on goal-scoring and tactical refinement, Zubairu is confident the Flying Eagles can make a deep run in Chile.