Flying Eagles forward Kparobo Arierhi has expressed optimism and renewed determination following Nigeria’s bronze-medal finish at the 2025 CAF U-20 Africa Cup of Nations in Egypt, assuring fans that the team is focused on improving ahead of the FIFA U-20 World Cup in Chile this September.
Arierhi, who scored a crucial goal during the AFCON tournament, said the team is grateful to return home with a medal but understands that the biggest task lies ahead.
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“We’re happy to be back home and thankful for the support from Nigerians everywhere,” Arierhi said. “The fans stood by us throughout the tournament, and we truly appreciate that.”
Despite a strong performance in Egypt, Arierhi acknowledged the need for improvement and emphasized that the World Cup will be an entirely different challenge.
“We gave it our best, but we know we have to be more disciplined, more dedicated, and train even harder,” he noted. “The World Cup is a different ball game — we must correct our mistakes and return stronger.”
Arierhi, who rose to prominence after his heroics in the 2024 WAFU B U-20 Championship, is considered one of the brightest young prospects in Nigerian football.
With a pre-contract signed with Norwegian club Lillestrøm, he remains one of the Flying Eagles’ most exciting talents heading into the global showpiece.
“Our focus now is on preparing well, studying our opponents, and being 100 percent ready to compete. We believe in ourselves, and we’ll keep working,” he concluded.
The Flying Eagles are scheduled to begin World Cup preparations in the coming weeks, with early camping expected to sharpen the team for the task ahead.
