The Flying Eagles opened their 2025 FIFA U-20 World Cup marketing campaign in Chile with a irritating 1-0 defeat to Norway on Monday evening; a sport by which Aliyu Zubair’s males dominated however couldn’t convert their superiority into objectives.
Norway struck as early because the ninth minute and, regardless of a barrage of second-half probabilities, Nigeria’s U-20s have been left to chase the sport with out discovering the breakthrough.
Missed probabilities hang-out Nigeria
The Flying Eagles carved out alternatives that ought to have modified the complexion of the match.
Kparobo Arierhi’s Forty seventh-minute left-footed strike contained in the field drifted agonisingly vast with the goalkeeper overwhelmed. Likewise, Tahir Maigana’s effort within the 63rd struck the bottom of the upright.
Nasiru Salihu got here shut once more within the 71st minute, however his rising shot from the proper simply cleared the bar narrowly. Seven minutes later, the tireless Maigana narrowly missed once more as Norwegian followers breathed a sigh of aid.
As Norway held on to their slender benefit till the ultimate whistle.
Zubair: ‘We weren’t fortunate’
After the sport, coach Aliyu Zubair praised his gamers’ effort however admitted frustration at their luck in entrance of aim.
“The boys performed their hearts out. They did all the pieces humanly doable to verify we received the match,” Zubair mentioned.
“Even from the beginning, we created probabilities, however sadly, our efforts stored hitting the bar. It simply felt like we weren’t fortunate.
“Possession doesn’t win matches. If simply one in all our makes an attempt had gone in, it could have modified the scenario. However that’s the means the sport comes, and we’ve got to take it as it’s,” he lamented.
Focus turns to Saudi Arabia
The Flying Eagles’ second group match comes on Thursday at 8 p.m. Chile time (midnight Friday Nigerian time) towards Saudi Arabia; now a must-win conflict if Nigeria are to remain on target for the knockout phases.
Zubair insists his workforce is able to bounce again:
“We’re going to take into consideration the subsequent match. We simply have to choose up the three factors,” he mentioned.
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Proud pedigree
Nigeria’s U-20 workforce has a proud pedigree at this stage, inserting third in 1985, reaching the ultimate in 1989 and 2005, and the quarter-finals in 2023 beneath Ladan Bosso.
Zubair, who took over the reins final 12 months, is beneath stress to copy that legacy and ship one other deep run for Africa’s most embellished youth aspect.
