Flying Eagles Coach Confident Despite Tough U-20 AFCON Group
Flying Eagles head coach Aliyu Zubairu has remained calm and confident after Nigeria’s placement in what many fans call a difficult group ahead of the 2024 U-20 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) in Egypt. The coach believes the team’s preparation is more important than the names of their opponents.
In the recent draw held on Sunday, Nigeria landed in Group B alongside Tunisia, Kenya, and Morocco. This comes after an earlier draw was changed due to the withdrawal of Ivory Coast as hosts. In that earlier group, Nigeria was set to face Egypt, South Africa, and Morocco.
Speaking on the new draw, Coach Zubairu said, “We should stop thinking some teams are big and others small. In Africa today, there are no weak opponents. What matters most is how well prepared your team is.”
He further explained that people had already called the first group a “group of death” because of Egypt and South Africa. Now, with a new mix that includes Tunisia and Kenya but still Morocco, fans are raising the same concerns. “Which team in Africa is easy to play these days?” he asked. “It all comes down to preparation.”
The Flying Eagles, who won the WAFU B U-20 Championship last year, have been training quietly in Katsina and later returned to Abuja. According to Zubairu, the team has made great progress during this period.
“From what we saw in Katsina, the team has improved a lot, especially in how they play and work together as a unit. There is no pressure on us. We are focused on our first goal – qualifying for the World Cup,” he added.
The seven-time AFCON champions will fly out to Egypt this week to begin the final eight-day phase of preparations before the tournament begins on April 27.
Other group arrangements see hosts Egypt, South Africa, Zambia, Sierra Leone, and Tanzania placed in Group A. Group C includes defending champions Senegal, Central African Republic, DR Congo, and four-time winners Ghana.
Q: How can the Flying Eagles qualify for the U-20 World Cup?
A: Nigeria must reach the semi-finals of the 2024 U-20 AFCON in Egypt. All four teams that reach the semi-finals will earn a spot in the FIFA U-20 World Cup taking place in Chile from September 27 to October 19.
With a strong history behind them and a confident coach leading the way, Nigeria’s Flying Eagles are determined to make an impact and secure their ticket to the world stage once again.
