Egypt 2025: Aftermath of 1-0 win, Flying Eagles coach, Zubair, says maximum points important

Posted : 02 May 2025

In the aftermath of his side's grueling 1-0 win over the Carthage Eagles of Tunisia in the ongoing 2025 Africa U-20 Cup of Nations in Cairo, Flying Eagles coach Aliyu Zubair restated the importance of securing the much-needed maximum points to qualify for the World Cup, rather than focusing on goal margin.

Zubair said that the target for his team, and the mandate given, was to secure a U-20 World Cup ticket, which his lads would fight to earn.

“There is no secret to our victory other than the fact that we want to get the World Cup ticket.

“The boys realized we had to get the first step right, and that’s what motivated us to win this game,” Zubair said.

Recall that Nigeria’s U-20 team earned the crucial win courtesy of a first-half strike by Auwal Ibrahim, who converted an inch-perfect pass from Odinaka Okoro. That goal was the difference as Nigeria maintained their dominance over Tunisia in youth football at the June 30 Stadium in Cairo.

The Flying Eagles played with confidence against the aggressive North Africans, and Ibrahim’s goal was well-deserved after Nigeria dominated the first half.

The seven-time champions thought they had secured a penalty kick in the 72nd minute to increase their lead, after Mendos Richson was shoved to the ground, but the Video Assistant Referee ruled otherwise.

Goalkeeper Ifeanyi Harcourt made a crucial save three minutes from the end, denying Tunisian forward Ben Ali from close range. The game ended with the Nigerians on a high, looking forward to their clash with Morocco’s Lion Cubs at the same venue on Sunday evening.

The victory marked Nigeria’s fourth win in six encounters with Tunisia at U-20 level, dating back to 1981, when the Flying Eagles defeated their visitors 4-0 in a qualifying fixture for the FIFA World Youth Championship in Australia.

They lost the return leg 1-4 in Tunis but still qualified for the final round.

In 1985, both teams played to a 1-1 draw in Tunis in the final of the African U-20 competition, but the Flying Eagles won the return leg 2-1 in Lagos to claim their second continental title.

Two years ago, in the third-place match of the Africa U-20 Cup of Nations also held in Egypt, Nigeria thrashed Tunisia 4-0 to claim the bronze medals.

The Flying Eagles will next face group leaders Morocco at the June 30 Stadium on Sunday.

Egypt 2025: Aftermath of 1-0 win, Flying Eagles coach, Zubair, says maximum points important

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