Nigeria Vs Norway: Match Preview as Flying Eagles Aim for Winning Start at 2025 FIFA U20 World Cup
The Flying Eagles of Nigeria will kick off their 2025 FIFA Under-20 World Cup campaign on Monday when they take on Norway at the Estadio Fiscal de Talca in Chile.
The match is scheduled to start at 8PM, and both teams will be hoping to get off to a strong start in Group F.
A Fresh Challenge for Zubairu’s Boys
Coach Aliyu Zubairu led Nigeria to this tournament after reaching the semifinals of the U20 Africa Cup of Nations earlier in the year. While their performances weren’t always convincing, there’s hope the team will step up when it matters most.
The Flying Eagles have a long history in the U20 World Cup and are considered one of Africa’s most consistent teams at this level. Since 2000, they’ve missed just three editions of the tournament. In 2023, they reached the quarterfinals, but were knocked out by South Korea, who won 1-0.
Norway Return After Six-Year Absence
For Norway, this marks their first U20 World Cup appearance since 2019, a tournament remembered for Erling Haaland’s record-breaking nine goals in a single match against Honduras. Despite that historic 12-0 win, the Norwegians failed to reach the knockout stage that year.
Unlike Nigeria, Norway don’t have much history at this level and have never gone beyond the group stage. This makes Monday’s clash an important opportunity to show progress.
Head-to-Head: A First Meeting
This will be the first time Nigeria and Norway meet at the U20 World Cup, adding extra intrigue to the match.
Probable Line-Ups
Nigeria (4-3-3):
Ebenezer Harcourt; Daniel Bameyi, Odinaka Okoro, Ahmed Olamide, Ocheche Amos; Auwal Ibrahim, Daniel Daga, Israel Ayuma; Charles Agada, Abduljelil Kamaldeen, Kparobo Arierhi.
Norway (4-3-3):
Magnus Brondbo; Ethan Amundsen-Day, Aleksander Andresen, Casper Glenna, Markus Haaland; Martin Haheim-Elveseter, Henrik Melland, Mats Pedersen; Hakon Rosten, Kasper Saetherbo, Nkota Hola Visted.
What to Expect
The match is expected to be evenly contested, with both sides eager to make a statement in their opening game. However, Nigeria might have a slight edge due to their greater experience at this level.
There’s also the issue of weather conditions. Many of the Norwegian players are used to playing in much colder climates and might take some time to adapt to Chile’s weather.
Prediction
A close game is on the cards, but if Nigeria can find their rhythm early, they could snatch a narrow win. A strong performance from the midfield could be key for the Flying Eagles to take control.
