Flying Eagles head coach Aliyu Zubairu has issued a confident message ahead of Nigeria’s highly anticipated clash with Morocco in the second group game of the 2025 Africa U-20 Cup of Nations, saying his team is prepared to do whatever it takes to secure victory.
The Flying Eagles opened their campaign with a 1-0 win over Tunisia on Thursday, courtesy of a first-half goal from Auwal Ibrahim, and now face a Moroccan side that also began with a win, edging Kenya 3-2.
Speaking after the Tunisia match, Zubairu praised his players’ discipline but made it clear that the focus had already shifted to the next challenge.
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“The match against Tunisia is now in the past,” he said. “How we approach the next game is for our own consumption, but we will map out a way to beat them.”
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While acknowledging Morocco’s strength and the number of foreign-based players in their squad, the Nigerian coach maintained that his team is up for the task.
“Morocco have more players playing abroad, but we will handle each game as they come,” Zubairu added.
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Both teams sit on three points, making Sunday’s encounter at the June 30 Stadium in Cairo a potential group decider. Nigeria, who have won the U-20 AFCON a record seven times, are not only chasing continental glory but also one of the qualification spots for the FIFA U-20 World Cup.
A win over Morocco would put Zubairu’s side in a commanding position and move them one step closer to booking their place on the global stage.
