Flying Eagles head coach Aliyu Zubairu has shared his ideas on Nigeria’s group opponents on the upcoming 2025 U-20 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON), displaying confidence in his workforce’s means to face any problem.
Nigeria have been lately drawn into Group B, the place they’ll face Tunisia, Morocco, and Kenya. With two robust North African groups within the combine, many followers and analysts have described it as one other “Group of Dying”. However Coach Zubairu isn’t anxious.
“I believe it’s excessive time we cease taking a look at some groups as greater and others as smaller,” he advised Soccernet.ng.
“There are not any small groups in Africa anymore — what issues is your stage of preparation.”
He added that individuals made the identical feedback after the primary draw, which had Nigeria positioned alongside Egypt, South Africa, and Morocco.
“Then, we stated it was a bunch of loss of life. Now, there’s a brand new draw with Tunisia, Kenya, and Morocco once more, and we’re nonetheless calling it robust. Which nation will we need to face that isn’t robust? The actual query is: how nicely have we ready?”
Coach Zubairu lately led the Flying Eagles by way of a three-week coaching camp in Katsina and is happy with the workforce’s progress.
“From what we noticed in Katsina, the workforce has improved rather a lot — we’re mixing nicely and taking a extra superior method to matches.”
When requested in regards to the problem of taking part in two North African groups, Zubairu didn’t reveal his ways:
“How we plan to play in opposition to the North Africans is for the workforce alone to know.”
Regardless of the expectations that include managing Nigeria’s U-20 workforce, the coach says he feels no strain.
“There isn’t a strain in any respect. Our solely focus is to succeed in our first objective — to qualify for the U-20 World Cup.”
And on whether or not followers ought to count on something particular tactically, Coach Zubairu gave a assured however mysterious reply:
“In fact there are [tactical surprises], however I wouldn’t need to let the cat out of the bag.”
The 2025 U-20 AFCON can be held in Egypt from twenty seventh April to 18th Could. The Flying Eagles will now proceed their closing preparations forward of the event.
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