Flying Eagles to face Chile, Australia in pre-World Cup friendlies — NFF

By Tosin Omojola –

As part of preparations for the FIFA U-20 World Cup, the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) has confirmed that the Flying Eagles will play international friendly matches against Chile and Australia.

In an official statement from the NFF’s Media and Communications Department, the federation announced that arrangements have been finalized for the Nigerian U-20 national team to engage the two nations in high-profile tune-up matches ahead of the global tournament.

NFF’s Head of International Competitions, Dayo Enebi Achor, disclosed that the Flying Eagles—two-time FIFA U-20 World Cup silver medallists—will take on host nation Chile on Saturday, 20th September. Chile are in Group A of the competition alongside New Zealand, Japan, and Egypt.

The Flying Eagles will then face Australia, who compete in Group D alongside Italy, Cuba, and Argentina, on Tuesday, 23rd September.

Nigeria, who also claimed bronze when the tournament was hosted by the former USSR in 1985, reached the quarter-finals of the last edition in Argentina, narrowly losing 1–0 to Korea Republic after extra time in Santiago del Estero.

The Nigerian contingent departed the country on Sunday for a two-week training camp in Chile, where the team will finalize preparations ahead of the tournament.