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NFF finalize arrangements of Flying Eagles preparatory friendlies with Chile, Australia

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NFF finalize arrangements of Flying Eagles preparatory friendlies with Chile, Australia
By Oluwadamilola Olaleye 
The Nigeria Football Federation has concluded plans for the Flying Eagles to step up their preparations for this year’s FIFA U20 World Cup with two high-profile friendly matches against Chile and Australia.
The games are designed to test the readiness of the team and sharpen their competitive edge ahead of the tournament.

According to Dayo Enebi Achor, the NFF’s Head of International Competitions, the seven-time African champions and two-time FIFA U20 World Cup silver medallists will face host nation Chile on Saturday, September 20.

Chile are drawn in Group A of the tournament alongside New Zealand, Japan, and Egypt.

Three days later, on Tuesday, September 23, Nigeria will take on Australia, who are competing in Group D alongside Italy, Cuba, and Argentina.

These fixtures are expected to provide valuable exposure for the Nigerian side as they aim to improve on their past achievements.

The Flying Eagles boast a rich history at the competition, having finished as runners-up twice and claiming bronze in 1985 when the tournament was staged in the former USSR.

At the last edition held in Argentina, Nigeria reached the quarter-finals before suffering a narrow extra-time defeat to Korea Republic in Santiago del Estero.
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Samuel Ahmadu
Samuel Ahmadu is a distinguished multimedia journalist and women's football expert with over 15 years of experience in the industry. On the back of domestic engagement since 2008, he began his international career journey at Goal.com in February 2014, where he served as an African women's football correspondent for nearly eight years. During his tenure at Goal.com, Samuel covered major events such as three Women's Africa Cup of Nations (2016, 2018, 2022) and the 2015 FIFA Women's World Cup in Canada plus 2018 FIFA World Cup in Russia. His work at Goal.com earned him widespread acclaim, particularly for his in-depth profiles of African football stars, notably Asisat Oshoala, whose rise he documented from her early years to her breakthrough at the FIFA U20 Women's World Cup in 2014. Prior to his role at Goal.com, Samuel freelanced for various print and broadcast media outlets in Nigeria, including Graphics Newspaper, Radio Nigeria, Grace FM, and Savid Newspaper. His extensive experience and expertise led to his appointment to the Nigeria Football Federation's Standing Committee on Women's Football Development from 2016 to 2018. Since February 2018, Samuel has been the Social Media Manager for Nigeria's women's national teams.In 2019, Samuel joined the Confederation of African Football (CAF) as a women's football content contributor and was promoted to Women's Football Editor in 2021. His contributions to women's football continued as he worked as a Media Consultant for Content Creation and Editorials at the 2022 CAF Women's Champions League. Currently, Samuel also serves as the spokesman for the Nigeria Women Football League, further solidifying his influence and dedication to the growth of women's football in Africa.
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