Nigeria’s U-20 men’s national team, the Flying Eagles, has secured a third-place finish at the 2025 U-20 Africa Cup of Nations. The team defeated hosts Egypt 4-1 in a penalty shootout after the match ended 1-1 in regulation time.
The match was played at the June 30 Stadium in Cairo, with the Flying Eagles bouncing back from their semi-final disappointment where they lost 1:0 to South Africa to clinch the bronze medal.
Egypt took the lead in the first half, capitalizing on a defensive lapse. However, the Flying Eagles equalized early in the second half through substitute Bidemi Amole, who scored Nigeria’s fourth goal of the tournament.
The match went to penalties, where Nigeria’s goalkeeper Rufai Abubakar emerged as the hero.
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Abubakar, who was introduced in the fourth minute of stoppage time, saved two Egyptian penalties to help Nigeria win 4-1 in the shootout. Emmanuel Chukwu, Israel Ayuma, Kpaboro Ariehri, and Tahir Maigana all converted their penalties for Nigeria.
Flying Eagles coach Aliyu Zubairu and Flying Eagles players at the 2025 Africa U-20 Cup of Nations
The bronze medal finish marks a successful campaign for the Flying Eagles, who had previously lost to South Africa in the semi-finals. However, the team had already secured a place at the FIFA U-20 World Cup by reaching the quarter-finals.
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The Flying Eagles’ next challenge is the FIFA U-20 World Cup, where they will face some of the best young players in the world. The team’s fans are eagerly awaiting the tournament, and expectations are high.
The team’s coach expressed pride in the players’ determination and resilience, which paid off in the end.
The team’s performance at the U-20 Africa Cup of Nations has generated excitement among Nigerian football fans, who are looking forward to seeing the team in action at the FIFA U-20 World Cup.
