Flying Eagles head coach Aliyu Zubairu has maintained his confidence in the team’s preparation as Nigeria arrived in the Chilean city of Talca ahead of the FIFA U-20 World Cup.
The two-time runners-up were warmly received on Thursday afternoon by FIFA and Local Organizing Committee officials, before settling into Hotel Diego de Almagro.
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Later that evening, the squad held their first training session at Estadio Fiscal de Talca, where all Group F matches will be played.
Nigeria wrapped up a 12-day training camp in Santiago before heading to Talca, testing themselves against strong opposition. They held hosts Chile to a 1-1 draw before outclassing Australia 3-1 in their final warm-up match on Tuesday. Coach Zubairu praised his players’ composure in those games, insisting the build-up has been more than adequate.
“We respect every opponent in this group, but we believe our six weeks of preparation have given us the edge to compete,” Zubairu said. “The boys are focused, disciplined, and eager to show what they can do.”
The Flying Eagles kick off their campaign against Norway on Monday, 29th September, before facing Saudi Arabia and Colombia in subsequent fixtures. With Nigeria still chasing a first-ever U-20 world title, Zubairu reiterated that the mission is not just participation but genuine competition for honours.
