Nigeria Vs Norway: Match Preview, Possible Line-up, Prediction, Date, Time

Nigeria Vs Norway: Match Preview, Possible Line-up, Prediction, Date, Time

By BSN Sports

Nigeria’s Flying Eagles will begin their campaign for a maiden FIFA U-20 World Cup title on Monday night when they face Norway in their opening Group F fixture at the Estadio Fiscal de Talca, BSNSports.com.ng reports.

Kick-off is scheduled for 9:00 PM West African Time (WAT), and both teams will be eager to start their tournament on a positive note in what is expected to be a tightly contested encounter.

Nigeria, led by head coach Aliyu Zubairu, qualified for the tournament after reaching the semifinals of the U-20 Africa Cup of Nations earlier this year. While their performance at that tournament was far from dominant, the team will be looking to raise their level as they set their sights on a deep run in Chile.

World Cup Pedigree: Nigeria vs Norway

This will be Norway’s first appearance at the U-20 World Cup since 2019, a tournament remembered for Erling Haaland’s record-breaking nine-goal performance in a 12-0 win over Honduras—although the Norwegians still failed to progress beyond the group stage.

In contrast, Nigeria are veterans of the competition, having missed the tournament just three times since 2000. The Flying Eagles reached the quarterfinals in 2023 before falling 1-0 to South Korea. Historically, Nigeria's best performances came in 1989 and 2005, when they finished as runners-up.

Despite their regular appearances, Nigeria have yet to lift the trophy—something coach Zubairu and his team are determined to change in 2025.

Monday’s fixture marks the first-ever meeting between Nigeria and Norway at U-20 level.

Match Details:

Fixture: Norway U20 vs Nigeria U20

Date: Monday, 29th September, 2025

Venue: Estadio Fiscal de Talca, Chile

Kick-off Time: 9:00 PM WAT / 8:00 PM GMT

Competition: 2025 FIFA U-20 World Cup (Group F)

Probable Lineups:

Nigeria U20 (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 U20 (4-3-3):

Magnus Brøndbo; Ethan Amundsen-Day, Aleksander Andresen, Casper Glenna, Markus Haaland; Martin Haheim-Elveseter, Henrik Melland, Mats Pedersen; Håkon Rosten, Kasper Sætherbø, Nkota Hola Visted.

Match Outlook & Prediction:

With both teams considered evenly matched by bookmakers, the match could hinge on fine margins. Nigeria may have a slight edge, particularly due to the climate. While many Norwegian players are accustomed to colder conditions, Chile’s warmer temperatures could play to Nigeria’s advantage.

If the Flying Eagles find cohesion early, they could edge the tie by a narrow margin. A 1–0 or 2–1 win is a realistic prediction for Coach Zubairu’s side.