National Teams
Aliyu Zubairu eyes fresh talent to bolster Flying Eagles for FIFA U-20 World Cup

By Dayo Awoniyi
Nigeria’s head coach Aliyu Zubairu has revealed plans to inject new talent into the squad ahead of the FIFA U-20 World Cup in Chile, as Nigeria looks to address key shortcomings identified during the recent U-20 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) in Morocco.
The Flying Eagles struggled with goal conversion during the continental tournament, prompting Zubairu to focus on reinforcing all departments with new call-ups.
“We’ll be inviting more players to bolster all departments,” Zubairu said in an interview with Kwara SWAN.
“We must fix the issues we saw at the AFCON, especially our finishing.”
The former Niger Tornadoes and current El-Kanemi Warriors coach emphasized the importance of managing expectations as the World Cup draws closer.
“Though we narrowly missed the AFCON title, qualifying for the World Cup is a huge achievement. Now, we must look ahead and do even better,” he added.
Zubairu also expressed his ambition to exceed Nigeria’s best-ever performance at the U-20 World Cup—reaching the final under Samson Siasia in 2005.
Reflecting on El-Kanemi Warriors’ underwhelming 2024/25 NPFL season, he attributed their struggles to mid-season squad changes and the departure of two key players to European clubs.
Despite the challenges, Zubairu remains optimistic about the future of Nigerian football.
He also took a moment to wish Kwara United FC success in the upcoming President Federation Cup final set for June 28 in Lagos.
“Kwara United has what it takes to emerge champions. I wish them all the best,” he said.