Flying Eagles head coach Aliyu Zubairu has assured Nigerians that the team’s journey is far from over, promising a more refined and reinforced squad ahead of the FIFA U-20 World Cup in Chile this September.
Speaking upon the team’s return from the CAF U-20 Africa Cup of Nations in Egypt — where they finished with a bronze medal and secured a World Cup ticket — Zubairu said the current squad will be thoroughly assessed, with new additions likely to bolster the team’s chances on the global stage.
“We are grateful for what the boys achieved in Egypt, but we’re not settling,” the coach said.
“We’ll sit down, analyze everything from the tournament, and make changes where necessary. There are areas where we clearly need to improve.”
Zubairu acknowledged that while the team showed spirit and discipline during the tournament, shortcomings — particularly in goal conversion and consistency — revealed the need for adjustments both tactically and personnel-wise.
“The World Cup is a higher level,” he emphasized. “We have to get players who will fit our system better and be more effective in the areas where we struggled.”
As part of their preparation plan, the Flying Eagles are expected to participate in a series of test matches and international tournaments in the coming months to fine-tune the squad and integrate new faces.
“We will expose the team to more competitive games and bring in the best talents we can find.
This isn’t just about participation; we want to go to Chile to compete for something big,” Zubairu said.
He concluded by thanking Nigerians for their unwavering support, while calling on stakeholders, especially the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF), to provide the resources and structure needed to help the team achieve their full potential.
With months left before the World Cup kicks off, the Flying Eagles’ camp is set to become a hive of activity as Zubairu and his coaching crew begin the mission to craft a squad capable of conquering the world’s best youth sides.
