Flying Eagles Set to Land in Chile On Tuesday Ahead of FIFA U-20 World Cup

Flying Eagles Set to Land in Chile On Tuesday Ahead of FIFA U-20 World Cup

By Niyi Busari 

 Flying Eagles are scheduled to arrive in Chile on Tuesday morning ahead of the 2025 FIFA U-20 World Cup, as preparations intensify for their opening match in Group F, BSNSports.com.ng reports.

The team departed Nigeria on Sunday and on Monday made a stopover in Istanbul, Turkey, where they are expected to board their final connecting flight to Chile. According to the official travel itinerary, the Flying Eagles will depart Istanbul aboard Turkish Airlines at 7:40 a.m. and arrive at Arturo Merino Benítez International Airport in Santiago by 8:50 a.m. local time.

Led by head coach Aliyu Zubairu, who guided the team to a third-place finish at the 2025 CAF U-20 Africa Cup of Nations in Egypt, the Flying Eagles are aiming to make history in their 14th World Cup appearance. Nigeria previously reached the final twice: in 1989 and 2005, but fell short on both occasions.

This year, the team has been drawn into Group F alongside Colombia, Saudi Arabia, and Norway. The Flying Eagles will begin their campaign on September 29 with a highly anticipated clash against Norway at the Estadio Fiscal, scheduled to kick off at 8:00 p.m. local time.

In preparation for the tournament, the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) has lined up two international friendly matches against tournament host Chile and fellow World Cup participants Australia. The matches are designed to fine-tune the team’s tactics and provide valuable exposure ahead of the group stage.

As seven-time African champions, expectations remain high for the Flying Eagles to go beyond their previous best and challenge for the title in Chile.