Nigeria U-20 head coach Aliyu Zubairu has accepted full responsibility for his team’s semi-final defeat to South Africa in the 2025 CAF U-20 African Nations Cup, following a narrow 1-0 loss that dashed the Flying Eagles’ hopes of continental glory.
The decisive clash at the Suez Canal Stadium on Thursday night saw the South Africans edge the West Africans in a tense affair, sending Nigeria into Sunday’s third-place playoff against hosts Egypt.
Speaking to journalists in the aftermath, Zubairu did not shy away from criticism, openly admitting shortcomings in his tactics and squad selection.
“I take full responsibility for our failure to reach the final. As head coach, the blame rests on me,” Zubairu stated.
The Nigerian tactician, who guided the team to success in last year’s WAFU B regional championship, suggested a major overhaul could be on the horizon ahead of the FIFA U-20 World Cup later this year. With September’s global tournament fast approaching, Zubairu hinted that several players may not make the cut.
“This tournament has helped us identify the players capable of stepping up to the next level and those who are not,” he said. “After our WAFU B success, we dropped many players because their quality wasn’t sufficient for the continental stage. A similar review will happen again.”
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While stopping short of naming individuals for criticism, the coach alluded to underwhelming performances from several key players, most notably striker Kparobo Arierhi. The forward, expected to spearhead Nigeria’s attack, struggled throughout the tournament, failing to find the net.
“Our biggest problem has been poor finishing. We’ve created chances but failed to convert them,” Zubairu lamented. “Everyone knows Kparobo Arierhi is a clinical striker, and we relied on him heavily. Unfortunately, he couldn’t deliver here. That said, he remains a quality player—this just wasn’t his tournament.”
Zubairu led Flying Eagles failed to reach the U20 AFCON final for the second consecutive edition. Photo Credit: X
The Flying Eagles of Nigeria will now clash with hosts Egypt in the third-place match of the 2025 CAF U-20 African Nations Cup on Sunday.
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Both sides suffered narrow semi-final defeats on Thursday, with Nigeria falling 1-0 to South Africa, while Egypt were edged out by the same scoreline against Morocco. As a result, they will now battle for the tournament’s bronze medal in Cairo.
Despite missing out on a place in the final, both Nigeria and Egypt can take consolation in having already secured qualification for the 2025 FIFA U-20 World Cup, which will take place in September.
Zubairu pledged a sharper and more committed performance in the playoff fixture.
“We will regroup and approach the game with the seriousness it deserves,” he said.
Meanwhile, the final will see South Africa take on Morocco in what promises to be a thrilling showdown between two of the competition’s most impressive sides.
The Flying Eagles, historically one of Africa’s most successful youth teams, will aim to restore some pride before shifting their attention to preparations for the World Cup.
