AFCON U-20 bronze medalists Flying Eagles return to warm reception

Nigeria’s U-20 national team, the Flying Eagles, touched down at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport in Abuja on Tuesday afternoon to a warm welcome following their impressive campaign at the just-concluded U-20 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) in Egypt.

The team returned home proudly clutching bronze medals and, more significantly, a coveted ticket to the 2025 FIFA U-20 World Cup in Chile — a major milestone after years of absence from the global youth stage.

After a dramatic quarter-final shootout victory over defending champions Senegal that secured their World Cup spot, the team bounced back from a semi-final defeat to South Africa to beat hosts Egypt on penalties and finish third in the tournament.

Speaking after landing in Abuja, team captain Daniel Bameyi expressed gratitude to Nigerians, saying, “We thank God and the entire country for the support. Though we didn’t win the tournament, we achieved something very important — qualifying for the World Cup. Now, the focus shifts to getting ready for the World Cup.”

Head coach Aliyu Zubairu also echoed the sentiment of progress and preparation, saying it would help the team excel at the U-20 Mundial:

“This team showed strong will, and with early and focused preparations, we can go to the World Cup with high hopes. The bronze medal is a good sign, but we want more.”

The Flying Eagles are expected to enjoy a brief break before the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) announces the next phase of preparations ahead of the FIFA U-20 World Cup in Chile this September.