Pre-match presser: Flyinig Eagles coach Zubairu on Kenya threat, staying sharp, topping Group B

Flying Eagles head coach Aliyu Zubairu has cautioned his players against complacency as Nigeria prepares to face Kenya in their final Group B fixture of the ongoing U20 Africa Cup of Nations on Wednesday.

Nigeria currently sits second in the group with four points, while Kenya remains bottom with zero, having lost both of their opening games.  

A win for the Flying Eagles will secure their passage to the quarterfinals and possibly see them finish as group leaders.

Speaking at the pre-match press conference, Zubairu emphasized the importance of taking the match seriously and warned his players not to underestimate the Kenyans.

"We're not relaxing at all. If you understand the history of tournaments, any team that hasn't gotten any points is actually more difficult to play than even those that have," the El-Kanemi Warriors gaffer stated.

He continued: "So, if we think Kenya will be easy tomorrow, we'd be deceiving ourselves. That's what we've been preaching to the boys — that they should not underestimate or underrate Kenya."

Zubairu acknowledged Kenya's quality despite their poor start and stressed the need for a focused and determined approach.

"They're not a bad side. The fact that they don't have any points doesn't reduce anything from them. We're going to approach the match with total seriousness to make sure we get the job done."

The coach also revealed the team's ambition to top the group, citing the strategic advantage it could offer, including the possibility of remaining in Cairo for the next stage.

"One thing that's common among the technical crew and the players is the desire to win tomorrow's match so we can top the group — because of the little advantage that comes with it," he added.

"If not for anything, topping the group might allow us to remain here in Cairo. That idea is common among everybody, and we know why we just have to go all out for the win tomorrow."

A win over Kenya would not only ensure Nigeria's qualification for the quarterfinals but also bring the team one step closer to booking a ticket to the 2025 FIFA U20 World Cup in Chile.

Adeyemi Adewale

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