Nigeria head coach Aliyu Zubairu, has expressed his desire for a preparatory match against a North African team ahead of the U20 Africa Cup of Nations (U20 AFCON) in Côte d’Ivoire.

The Flying Eagles have been drawn into what has been labelled the “Group of Death,” featuring formidable opponents Morocco and Egypt.

The team had initially planned a friendly against Egypt last month, but the fixture was called off after both sides were drawn into the same group for the upcoming tournament.

“We will still want to play against a North African team before the AFCON because this will prepare us for the tournament,” Zubairu stated.

Mixed Results in Côte d’Ivoire Friendlies

The Flying Eagles this week engaged in two test matches against U20 AFCON hosts Côte d’Ivoire, securing a 2-0 victory in the first match before suffering a 2-0 defeat in the rematch on Friday

Zubairu explained that he deliberately experimented with a different tactical approach and rotated his squad in the second fixture.

“We played a second tactic and we lost the game even though we also made some changes in the team,” he said. “All the same, what we wanted to see, we have seen.”

Path to the FIFA U20 World Cup

The 2025 U20 AFCON is scheduled to take place from April 26 to May 18 in Côte d’Ivoire, with the four semi-finalists earning a ticket to the FIFA U20 World Cup in Chile.

Nigeria will be aiming to secure their place on the global stage while contending with some of Africa’s toughest teams in the group stage.

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Following the cancellation of an initial friendly match with Egypt, the Nigeria Football Federation has secured a replacement team.

Both Nigeria and Egypt had earlier agreed on a friendly match. But both were later grouped in the U-20 Africa Cup of Nations holding in Cote d’Ivoire.

The match against Cote d’Ivoire will hold on 26 and 28 February in Abidjan.

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The head coach of Flying Eagles, Aliyu Zubairu, has voiced his optimism following Thursday’s group stage draw for the Africa U20 Cup of Nations, which will take place in Cote d’Ivoire, 26^th April – 18^th May.

The Nigerian team finds itself in a demanding group alongside traditional powerhouses Morocco, Egypt, and South Africa, all of whom have a rich history in African youth football.

In his reaction to the draw, Coach Zubairu remarked: “It’s a very good draw. If a team truly aspires to reach the FIFA World Cup, there is no need to shy away from any opponent.

“Facing Egypt, Morocco, and South Africa at this stage presents a tremendous opportunity. I believe it’s a blessing.”

This perspective not only highlights Zubairu’s confidence in his squad’s capabilities but also underscores his commitment to challenging his players against formidable rivals, which can ultimately foster their development and resilience.

Understanding the gravity of the situation, Coach Zubairu stressed the necessity of mental preparation as his team gears up for these high-stakes matches.

He is keen on instilling a robust sense of self-belief within his players, emphasizing that they should approach every opponent with respect and seriousness.

“We need to dispel the notion that this is a ‘group of death,’” he said. “In African football, there are no small teams anymore. The key is to prepare very well. A lesser-known nation can surprise everyone if they come prepared.”

To ensure the team is adequately prepared for the task, the NFF has not only put the Flying Eagles in camp to resume training, with a 30-man squad but has also organised a two-match tour of Cairo for the team to play the Egyptian U20 team at the end of this month.

The friendly matches in Cairo have been scheduled for the 25^th and 27^th of February.

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