National Teams
WAFU B U-20 Cup: Aliyu Zubairu criticizes Flying Eagles’ defensive vulnerabilities
By: Saheed Afolabi
Niger U-20 coach, Aliyu Zubairu, has expressed his concerns over the defensive fragility of his team during the recently concluded WAFU B U-20 Cup in Lomé, Togo.
While the Flying Eagles eventually defended their title with inspiring performances, Zubairu was dissatisfied with the defensive weaknesses that allowed opposing teams to score “cheap goals.”
Despite recovering from an opening 1-0 defeat to Burkina Faso, the Flying Eagles’ defense remained a point of contention for the coach.
Zubairu acknowledged that the team’s vulnerability at the back was a pressing issue, especially considering the higher stakes of international competitions.
“I’m somewhat dissatisfied with our defense; we were conceding goals consistently,” Zubairu said in an interview with members of the Sports Writers Association of Nigeria (SWAN) in Ilorin.
“This vulnerability cannot be overlooked on a larger stage. We need to address it going forward.”
The coach also revealed the challenges he faced in preparing the team for the tournament, citing the limited time he had to put the squad together.
Zubairu, who took over the reins as Nigeria’s U-20 coach under challenging circumstances, only had 37 days between his appointment and the start of the WAFU B competition.
This brief period meant that he was only able to retain three players from the previous squad, leading him to recruit several new, younger talents for the tournament.
“Given the short time, we had to work with, I could only keep three players from the previous squad. That meant bringing in new players, which was a necessary step, but also one that presented challenges,” Zubairu explained.
While the Flying Eagles managed to overcome early setbacks and ultimately defend their title, the coach’s criticism stresses an area in need of significant improvement as the team prepares for future challenges, including the upcoming U-20 African Cup of Nations (AFCON) and potentially the U-20 World Cup.
Zubairu’s focus on strengthening the defense will be crucial as he looks to fine-tune his squad ahead of more competitive fixtures.