Post-match presser: Flying Eagles coach Zubairu on win v Tunisia, Morocco clash, foreign-based pros

Nigeria U20s coach Aliyu Zubaru faced the media shortly after his side defeated Tunisia 1-0 in their opening game of the ongoing 2025 Africa U20 Cup of Nations.

With seven minutes to the end of the first half, Auwal Ibrahim finished off a brilliant team move, which involved six passes, to score what proved to be the game-winning goal.

The Flying Eagles, seven-time winners of the U20 Afcon, have now scored in six consecutive matches against Tunisia.

After the victory over the North African giants, Zubairu reiterated his team's strong determination to qualify for the 2025 Fifa U20 World Cup.

In a video made available to allnigeriasoccer.com by Flying Eagles media officer Sharif Abdallah, Zubairu stated: "There is no secret other than the fact that we truly mean to get the World Cup ticket. the boys realized that they get the first step right in today's match."

Looking ahead to their next fixture against Morocco on May 4, Zubairu responded to a question about the European-based talents in the squad.

While the young Atlas Lions have twenty players on the books of European clubs, Nigeria have taken five young pros to Egypt.

When asked about his plans for the Morocco match, Zubairu stated:"You are trying to make me understand that Morocco have more players from Europe, that's very good. We will handle every match accordingly.

"Against Tunisia the match is gone, our match plan against Morocco is for our consumption alone but we are going to work towards that.”

Asked about his squad selection, which favoured home-based players, Zubairu emphasized the importance of preparation.

"We spent almost a month in closed camping, and European players do not have the opportunity to be part of the preparations. They need to understand the team's tactical structure," he explained.

"It's not that they’re underperforming—they’re doing well. In fact, today three played, two were on the bench. We only have five European-based players."

After the opening round of matches in Group B of the 2025 Afcon, Nigeria are sitting second in the table, level on three points with Morocco who beat Kenya 3-2.

Ifeanyi Emmanuel

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