U20 Afcon: Aliyu Zubairu accepts blame, signals squad overhaul ahead of World Cup

By Dayo Awoniyi

Nigeria bowed out of the 2025 CAF U-20 Africa Cup of Nations following a narrow 1-0 semi-final loss to South Africa, a result that left head coach Aliyu Zubairu taking full responsibility for the team’s title miss.

The defeat not only dashed Nigeria’s hopes of reclaiming continental glory but also exposed gaps in the squad’s overall quality.

Zubairu acknowledged these concerns and hinted at a significant shake-up ahead of the FIFA U-20 World Cup scheduled for September 2025.

“I take full responsibility for our failure to reach the final. As head coach, the blame rests on me,” Zubairu said during the post-match press conference.

“This tournament has helped us identify the players capable of stepping up to the next level and those who are not. After our WAFU B success, we dropped many players because their quality wasn’t sufficient for the continental stage. A similar review will happen again,” he revealed.

“It’s clear that some of the current squad members aren’t ready for the demands of a World Cup.”

With a place in the final out of reach, Nigeria now shifts focus to Sunday’s third-place playoff against Egypt, and Zubairu has promised a renewed approach.

“We will regroup and approach the game with the seriousness it deserves.”

The Flying Eagles’ attacking inefficiency has been a recurring issue throughout the tournament, and Zubairu did not shy away from calling it out.

“Our biggest problem has been poor finishing. We’ve created chances but failed to convert them. Everyone knows Kparobo Arierhi is a clinical striker, and we relied on him heavily. Unfortunately, he couldn’t deliver here. That said, he remains a quality player — this just wasn’t his tournament.”

As the Flying Eagles prepare for their final match in Egypt, all eyes will be on how Zubairu’s men respond — and which players might earn a second chance ahead of the global stage later this year.

Samuel Ahmadu

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.

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