Everything Flying Eagles coach Aliyu Zubairu said after win over Tunisia
Flying Eagles head coach, Aliyu Zubairu, has credited his players’ determination to qualify for the FIFA U-20 World Cup as the driving force behind their hard-fought 1-0 win over Tunisia in their opening match of the 2025 Africa U-20 Cup of Nations.
Nigeria, who have won the tournament seven times, edged past the North Africans on Thursday in Cairo thanks to a 38th-minute strike from Auwal Ibrahim.
Speaking to the media after the match, Zubairu dismissed any talk of tactics or secrets behind the victory, saying the team was simply focused on taking the first important step toward qualification.
“There is no secret to our victory other than the fact that we want to get the World Cup ticket,” Zubairu said. “The boys realised we have to get the first step right, and that’s what motivated us to win this game.”
Looking ahead, the Flying Eagles will next face Morocco at the June 30 Stadium on Sunday. Morocco also began their campaign with a win, defeating Kenya 3-2.
Zubairu acknowledged the strength of the Moroccan side but remained confident in his team’s ability to rise to the challenge.
“Morocco have more players playing abroad, but we will handle each game as they come,” he said. “The match against Tunisia is now in the past. How we approach the next game is for our own consumption, but we will map out a way to beat them.”
The Flying Eagles will be aiming to secure their place in the knockout stage with another positive result on Sunday.
