Flying Eagles Final Preparation For FIFA U20 World Cup Begins In August - Head Coach

Flying Eagles Final Preparation For FIFA U20 World Cup Begins In August - Head Coach 

By Niyi Busari 

 The Nigeria U20 national team, popularly known as the Flying Eagles, will commence their final phase of preparations for the 2025 FIFA U20 World Cup on August 1st, 2025, in Abuja, BSN Sports.com.ng reports.

Head coach Aliyu Zubairu confirmed this development in an exclusive interview with BSN Sports following the team’s training session in the capital.

Zubairu, a former El-Kanemi Warriors coach, emphasized the importance of the upcoming WAFU B U20 Championship as a crucial part of the team’s buildup to the global tournament.

 “The WAFU B tournament is going to help us a lot,” Zubairu said. “Our main camping for the FIFA U20 World Cup starts on the 1st of August, so this competition serves as a prelude to that. It will give us an early start in assessing our readiness.”

The coach also noted the unique scenario where Nigeria is the only West African nation participating in the 2025 FIFA U20 World Cup, scheduled to hold in Chile.

 “Among the teams participating in this tournament, we are the only one heading to the World Cup. That doesn’t usually happen, but we’ll make the most of it. It’s a great platform to fine-tune our tactical approach and test our strategies in competitive matches.”

The Flying Eagles have been drawn in Group A of the WAFU U20 Championship, alongside hosts Ghana and Benin Republic. Group B consists of Côte d’Ivoire, Burkina Faso, Niger Republic, and Togo.

The regional tournament kicks off on July 10th in Ghana, with Nigeria opening their campaign against the host nation. They will play their final group match against Benin Republic on July 13th. The competition wraps up on July 23rd.

Nigeria, two-time FIFA U20 World Cup finalists, are one of four African nations to qualify for the 2025 edition of the tournament in Chile. Other African representatives include South Africa, Morocco, and Egypt.