Flying Eagles head coach Aliyu Zubairu has admitted that Nigeria’s U20 team still has serious issues in attack, NaijNaira can report.
He made this known while speaking to the Nigeria Football Federation.
Zubairu said, “We are taking proactive measures to ensure that the challenges we encountered previously are addressed, squarely.”
Nigeria’s struggles at the 2023 U20 Africa Cup of Nations remain a concern, especially after failing to score in three of their six matches.
The team’s only win in regulation came against Tunisia, while their highest goal tally in a single match was two — during a 2-2 draw with Kenya.
Zubairu, however, is focused on fixing the team’s biggest weakness before the WAFU B U20 Tournament in Ghana and the FIFA U20 World Cup in Chile.
“My assistants and myself are very much aware of the issues related to the team’s attacking prowess and we are making concerted efforts to rectify the situation,” he said.
The Flying Eagles are currently in camp in Abuja and will face Ghana and Benin in Group A, with the opening match set for July 10.
The coach sees the regional tournament as more than a competition — it’s also a scouting and rebuilding phase.
“The tournament in Ghana offers us a good window to showcase a few more players and we will grab that opportunity,” he added.
The 2025 FIFA U20 World Cup kicks off in Chile from September 27 to October 19, with Nigeria set to represent Africa alongside Morocco, Egypt, and South Africa.
Article updated 3 weeks ago. Content is written and modified by multiple authors.
