Flying Eagles Set to Face Australia in FIFA U20 World Cup Warm-Up Game Today

Flying Eagles Set to Face Australia in FIFA U20 World Cup Warm-Up Game Today 

By Niyi Busari 

 Nigeria’s U20 national team, the Flying Eagles, will take on their Australian counterparts today (Saturday) in a key warm-up match ahead of the 2025 FIFA U20 World Cup in Chile.

The international friendly is scheduled for 11:00 a.m. local time (3:00 p.m. Nigerian time) at the Rancagua City Stadium, and marks the first of two preparatory matches lined up by the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) ahead of the global tournament.

The Flying Eagles arrived in Chile on Tuesday and have completed two intensive training sessions as part of their final preparations. Following today’s clash against Australia, the team will also face host nation Chile in a second friendly before the tournament officially kicks off.

Group F Challenges Await

Under the guidance of head coach Aliyu Zubairu, Nigeria is gearing up for a challenging Group F campaign. The Flying Eagles will begin their World Cup journey against Norway on Monday, September 29, followed by fixtures against Saudi Arabia on October 3, and Colombia on October 6.

Zubairu, who steered the team to a third-place finish at the 2025 CAF U20 Africa Cup of Nations in Egypt, is aiming to lead Nigeria past the quarterfinal stage – a feat that has eluded the team since finishing as runners-up in 1989 and 2005.

 “Our focus is on building team chemistry and sharpening tactics. These friendly matches are vital in evaluating our readiness,” said Zubairu ahead of Saturday’s game.

Nigeria, seven-time African champions at the U20 level, remain one of the most consistent performers on the continent, but are still in search of their first FIFA U20 World Cup title.