Flying Eagles. Photo Credit: NFF Comms
Nigeria’s Flying Eagles touched down in Santiago this week and wasted no time getting to work ahead of the 24th FIFA U20 World Cup, Soccernet.ng reports.
Head coach Aliyu Zubairu put his squad through their first full session on Wednesday evening at the Cancha Liga Training Pitch, following a recovery workout earlier in the day at the team’s base, Le Meridien Hotel.
The build-up continues with friendlies against hosts Chile on Saturday and Australia next Tuesday before the serious business kicks off.
The Flying Eagles open their campaign against Norway on 29 September, then face Saudi Arabia and Colombia in what promises to be a tight group. Zubairu is already sharpening his tactical approach.
“We have to think about different tactics for our three group opponents,” the coach said.
“The first step is to study tapes of their recent matches so we can plan how to beat them. Our immediate target is to secure one of the tickets out of the group, and then we’ll turn our focus to the next round.”
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Nigeria’s history in this competition is rich. Bronze in 1985. Two runner-up finishes: in 1989, undone by Jorge Couto’s Portugal, and in 2005 when Lionel Messi tormented Samson Siasia-led Flying Eagles. That tournament, of course, revealed Mikel Obi to the world.
Now another generation takes the stage.
Goalkeepers Ebenezer Harcourt (Sporting Lagos), Clinton Ezekiel (Bayelsa United), and Rufa’i Abubakar (Mavlon FC) provide depth at between the posts. Stade de Reims defender Ocheche Amos Onyejefu and Bayelsa United’s Daniel Bameyi add balance in defence.
In midfield, Israel Ayuma of NK Istra and Molde’s Daniel Daga bring European experience, while Manchester City youngster Abdullahi Shitu Ele highlights the firepower up front.
Confidence inside the camp is clear. Ayuma, who once played for Mavlon FC before moving to Croatia, set the tone:
“We are fully ready now. My brothers and I are going for the World Cup to become victorious. We are not going just to participate. We are going for the trophy, and I know we will do well because we have trained very well. We’ve received good training from the manager and we have good officials. So, I believe in this team, and I know we’ll come out victorious.”
That belief is exactly what Zubairu and the Young Eagles will need.
Last time, in 2023, Nigeria’s U20 team fell in extra time to South Korea in the quarter-finals. This time, the Flying Eagles arrive with expectation and the chance to write their own story in Chile.