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“I’m somewhat dissatisfied”- Aliyu Zubairu plays down Flying Eagles’ hailings
By Wale Mustapha
Aliyu Zubairu, Head Coach of Nigeria’s U20 men’s national football team, has downplayed the recent praise following his side’s 2-1 victory over Ghana in the final of the WAFU B U20 Championship, emphasizing that the Flying Eagles remain a team in development.
While the win secured not only the regional title but also qualification for the 2025 U20 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON), Zubairu believes there is still much work to be done before the next major tournament.
Zubairu, who guided the Flying Eagles to their regional triumph, expressed concerns over certain areas of the team, particularly the defense.
“I’m somewhat dissatisfied with our defense; we were conceding goals consistently,” the coach said after the match. “This vulnerability cannot be overlooked on a larger stage.”
Despite their success, Zubairu stressed that the team must address these defensive lapses in order to be competitive at the continental level, pointing out that the Flying Eagles’ performance in the WAFU B Championship showed potential, but that a reshuffling of some departments was needed ahead of the 2025 U20 AFCON.
The Flying Eagles are set to resume their training camp by the end of November as they begin preparations for the AFCON tournament.
While the regional triumph has lifted morale, Zubairu’s focus remains firmly on improving the team’s overall balance and ensuring they are ready to compete with the best teams in Africa next year.