Coach Aliyu Zubair blames early goals for Flying Eagles’ World Cup fall

Flying Eagles Head Coach, Aliyu Zubair, has reacted to Nigeria’s 4–0 defeat to Argentina in the Round of 16 of the FIFA U-20 World Cup.

Speaking at his post-match conference, Zubair explained that conceding two quick goals early in the encounter affected his players’ composure and disrupted their tactical approach.

“I think the early goal was part of what destabilised us. We conceded very early, and even the second goal came not too long after the first. That brought about the destabilisation in our approach,” he said.

Despite the setback, the coach praised his players for showing resilience and a positive attitude throughout the game. However, he pointed out that the team struggled to maintain intensity and react quickly after losing possession.

“The level of our fight off the ball was not enough. That’s what gave the Argentines a lot of opportunities and space to operate. Anytime we lost the ball, we weren’t fighting back quickly,” he added.

Zubair concluded by acknowledging that the defeat was part of the realities of football, noting that such experiences would serve as lessons for the young Nigerian side moving forward.

Conceding responsibility for the loss, the coach said: “It’s football. I am part of it. I take the blame and responsibility. The day they win, they win, and as they lost today, I take responsibility.”