Connect with us

National Teams

U20 AFCON: Aliyu Zubairu urges “support” ahead of Nigeria opener vs Tunisia

Published

on

U20 AFCON: Aliyu Zubairu urges “support” ahead of Nigeria opener vs Tunisia

By Dayo Awoniyi

As Nigeria’s Flying Eagles gear up to face Tunisia in their opening match of the 2025 U-20 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON), Head Coach Aliyu Zubairu has issued a heartfelt appeal to Nigerians for unity, prayers, and unwavering support.

The Group B encounter will kick off on Thursday, May 1, at 4 p.m. Nigerian time at the 30 June Stadium in Cairo.

Speaking at a pre-match press conference, Zubairu expressed full confidence in his squad’s readiness following an intensive build-up campaign.

“We are very much prepared,” he said. “From Abuja to Katsina, back to Abuja, and now Egypt—this team has worked hard, and the boys are ready.”

Zubairu acknowledged the immense expectations from passionate Nigerian fans, urging them to back the team with both moral and spiritual support.

“We know how important football is to Nigerians. They drop everything to support the team. We don’t want to disappoint them, but their prayers are key. We need their support and prayers for us to succeed.”

The coach dismissed any suggestions of pressure ahead of the match, instead framing the challenge as a motivation.

“There’s no pressure—only motivation. We beat Tunisia 4-0 the last time we met, but this is a new game, and we must earn it again,” he stated.

While hopeful of a strong start, Zubairu emphasized that the team’s main goal remains qualification for the FIFA U-20 World Cup.

“We want to win the trophy, of course, but the first target is reaching the semi-finals to secure the World Cup ticket. Once we get there, we can talk about going all the way.”

The Flying Eagles enter the tournament with a proud pedigree and will look to reaffirm their continental dominance with a positive result against Tunisia.

author avatar
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.
Continue Reading
.

Mobile applications

Our mobile app is optimized for your phone. Download it for free!

Connect With Us

© 2025, nigeriafootball | All Rights Reserved.