As the Flying Eagles prepare to battle Colombia in their crucial last group match of the ongoing 2025 FIFA U-20 World Cup in the early hours of Monday, their head coach, Aliyu Zubairu has called on the players to maintain focus.
Nigeria bounced back from their opening-day defeat to Norway with a thrilling 3-2 victory over Saudi Arabia in the early hours of Friday.
The Flying Eagles sealed the win in dramatic fashion after a late penalty was awarded when Saudi full-back Awad Aman handled the ball inside his own box.
Speaking after the game, Zubairu praised his team’s resilience and fighting spirit.
“If you look at the first match, I think we had most of the possession but we ran out of luck.
“After that game, the boys sat together, discussed everything we told them, and made up their minds to go all out for the three points today. That is what really motivated them,” the coach explained.
While delighted with the performance, Zubairu emphasized that the job is not yet done.
He urged his players to quickly turn their attention to the decisive encounter against Colombia, which will determine their qualification hopes.
“Next line of action is to go for the three points against Colombia. As simple as that,” he stated.
The Flying Eagles currently sit third in their group and must secure a positive result against the South Americans to keep their campaign alive.
