By Dayo Awoniyi
Flying Eagles head coach Aliyu Zubairu says meticulous preparation and disciplined execution were key to Nigeria’s quarter-final victory over Senegal at the 2025 CAF U-20 Africa Cup of Nations.
Nigeria secured a place in the semi-finals — and qualification for the FIFA U-20 World Cup in Chile — with a 3–1 win on penalties after a goalless draw against the defending champions.
Zubairu praised his team’s mental resilience under pressure, highlighting their ability to stay composed in the tense shootout.
“We trained for this moment. Every possible scenario was prepared for, including penalties,” Zubairu said after the match.
“The boys stuck to the plan and executed it when it mattered most. That’s what champions do.”
The Flying Eagles will now face South Africa in the semi-finals on Thursday, as they continue their bid for an eighth continental title.
Samuel Ahmadu is a distinguished multimedia journalist and women's football expert with over 15 years of experience in the industry. He began his career 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.
