Flying Eagles return to Abuja after third-place finish
Nigeria’s U-20 national football team, the Flying Eagles, are expected to arrive at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja, at 2:00 PM today (Tuesday) following their dramatic third-place finish at the U-20 Africa Cup of Nations.
Led by coach Aliyu Zubairu, the team will depart from Guard Hotel to Cairo International Airport at 11:00 AM Egyptian time via EgyptAir for the four-hour flight.
The Flying Eagles clinched bronze after a 4–1 penalty shootout victory over hosts Egypt, following a 1–1 draw in regulation time.
Egypt struck first, but Nigeria equalized early in the second half, leveling the score in the 47th minute before dominating the shootout.
Nigeria converted four of their spot-kicks, while Egypt managed only one.
The result also secures Nigeria’s qualification for the 2025 FIFA U-20 World Cup in Chile, alongside Egypt, South Africa, and Morocco.
In the tournament final, South Africa stunned pre-tournament favorites Morocco with a 1–0 victory to claim their first-ever U-20 AFCON title.
