Flying Eagles captain, Daniel Bameyi, says Nigeria is ready to end its long wait for glory as the team begins its 2025 FIFA U-20 World Cup campaign against Norway later tonight in Talca, Chile. Kick-off is scheduled for 9:00 pm.
Nigeria will be making their 14th appearance at the tournament – the most by any African nation – but they are yet to lift the trophy. Ghana remain the only African country to have won the competition.
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The Flying Eagles, however, boast a strong pedigree, having finished runners-up twice (1989 and 2005) and reached the quarter-finals on several occasions, most recently in 2023.
Bameyi, who plays for Bayelsa United and is featuring in his second U-20 World Cup, is confident the team can go beyond previous records.
“This team has what it takes to go even beyond. We want to be champions, and that’s why we have been preparing seriously for every single game. To be the best, you must beat the best, and we are ready to take it one step at a time,” the captain told Olympics.com.
The 19-year-old also highlighted Nigeria’s depth and technical quality, noting that the squad has the experience to deliver.
Head coach Aliyu Zubairu, who guided the team to a third-place finish at the 2025 U-20 AFCON in Egypt, also believes the Flying Eagles are capable of rewriting history.
“We respect all the teams in the group. We are not underestimating anyone, but we cannot compromise on our ambition to go beyond our past record,” Zubairu said.
Nigeria’s preparations have been encouraging, with an intensive camp in Abuja followed by two weeks of training in Santiago. They played two tune-up games, drawing 1-1 with hosts Chile and beating Australia 3-1 – results that have boosted confidence going into tonight’s clash.
On the flip side, Norway arrive in Chile with mixed form, winning just one of their last five matches, including a 1-0 victory over the United States U-20s. They have also suffered defeats against Ukraine and Portugal, while drawing with Saudi Arabia and Uzbekistan.
By contrast, Nigeria are unbeaten in their last five matches, though four ended in draws – against Egypt, Senegal, Kenya, and Morocco – alongside a narrow 1-0 loss to South Africa at the U-20 AFCON.
With both sides evenly matched, tonight’s encounter promises to be a fascinating battle between Nigeria’s pedigree in youth tournaments and Norway’s European grit.
