WAFU B U20 Championship: Flying Eagles’ improvement elates coach Zubairu
By Tosin Omojola
Nigeria’s U-20 side, the Flying Eagles, secured a semi-final ticket at the WAFU B Championship on Thursday, much to the delight of head coach Aliyu Zubairu.
The Nigerians, needing an outright win to advance past the preliminary round, achieved this with a come-from-behind victory over West African rivals Côte d’Ivoire, winning 2-1 at the Municipal Stadium in Lome.
Speaking during the post-match interview after the decisive Group B final game, Zubairu highlighted the team’s improvement compared to their first match against Burkina Faso. He promised further progress and a stronger performance in the semi-finals.
“I feel elated with this result, especially given the pressure brought by the outcome of the first match. I’m delighted that we managed to secure the three points needed to take us to the semi-finals.”
The El-Kanemi Warriors of Maiduguri gaffer noted that the team was nervous in their first game against Burkina Faso, leading to their 0-1 loss.
Zubairu assured Nigerians of a more refined performance when the squad faces Niger Republic in the semi-final, emphasizing that they cannot afford to disappoint.
Nigeria will take on Niger Republic in Saturday’s semi-finals of the WAFU B U-20 Championship, which serves as the qualifier for the 2025 Africa U-20 Cup of Nations, with only the finalists advancing.
The 2025 U-20 AFCON will also serve as the African qualifiers for the 2025 FIFA U-20 World Cup in Chile, with the four semi-finalists qualifying automatically.
