The coach of the Flying Eagles, Aliyu Zubairu, expresses hopefulness as the Nigerian team redirects its attention to securing their eighth AFCON title in Egypt.
The Flying Eagles have secured their place in the upcoming FIFA U-20 World Cup in Chile after qualifying for the semi-finals of the U-20 AFCON.
In a thrilling quarter-final clash, the team stunned the media by defeating Senegal, the defending champions, 3-1 on penalties.
The Flying Eagles will face South Africa in the semi-finals on Thursday following this victory. Coach Zubairu believes the team will enhance their performance, free from the anxiety of World Cup qualification.
In an interview with NFF Media, he remarked, “We expect a tough competition in the semi-final against the South Africans.”
Now that we have achieved our World Cup qualification, we can approach the next match with greater focus and composure, which will positively influence our gameplay.”
The rivalry between Nigeria and South Africa adds an extra layer of excitement to the upcoming match, a fact that coach Zubairu recognizes. “We are prepared to give it our all and compete fiercely for the title,” he affirmed.
Reflecting on the team’s progress, Zubairu noted, “It’s clear that we have improved with each match, and we are ready to showcase our development against South Africa.”
Their opponents, the South Africans, also endured a challenging match, narrowly defeating the Democratic Republic of Congo 1-0 in extra time at the Suez Canal Authority Stadium—the same venue where Nigeria defeated Senegal.
Nigeria boasts a storied legacy in the U-20 AFCON, clinching the championship seven times (1983, 1985, 1987, 1989, 2005, 2011, and 2015), finishing as runners-up in 1999 and 2007, and securing bronze medals in 2009 and 2013.
In Cairo, the second semi-final will see Egypt, the hosts and four-time champions, take on Morocco.
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