Flying Eagles to Play Chile, Australia in W/Cup Warm-ups

Nigeria’s Flying Eagles have jetted out to Chile to intensify their final preparations for the 2025 FIFA U-20 World Cup, where they are set to do battle with Chile and Australia in two crucial friendly matches. The seven-time African champions, who departed Abuja on Sunday night, will confront Chile in the first tune-up game this Saturday, while a clash with Australia is scheduled for next week Tuesday. These friendly encounters have been strategically arranged to help the team adapt to the unique weather, altitude, and playing conditions in South America before the tournament kicks off on September 27. The team’s departure marks the culmination of an intensive one-month training camp in Abuja, where head coach Aliyu Zubairu’s side focused on tactical cohesion and addressing the team’s attacking deficiencies ahead of the global showpiece.

The Flying Eagles have been drawn into a challenging Group F alongside Norway, Colombia, and Saudi Arabia. The choice of Chile and Australia as friendly opponents is a deliberate move to expose the young Nigerian team to diverse styles of play that they are likely to encounter in their group. Chile’s squad, with its South American flair, provides an ideal test to prepare for the technical and fluid style of Colombia. Similarly, the match against Australia, an Asian Football Confederation powerhouse, will offer a different challenge, forcing the Nigerian team to adapt to a more physical and well-organized opposition. The team’s final squad for the tournament, however, has been affected by the withdrawal of some key overseas-based players. French club Stade Reims and Germany’s Hoffenheim have both refused to release players for the competition, a decision they are permitted to make as the U-20 World Cup is not on FIFA’s official calendar. Despite these setbacks, Coach Zubairu has adjusted his plans and is confident in the squad’s blend of home-based and Europe-based players, including the likes of Molde’s Daniel Daga and midfielder Kazeem Ogunleye from FK Partizani Tirana, who are expected to provide the team with much-needed quality and experience.

Coach Aliyu Zubairu, who led the team to a third-place finish at the U-20 AFCON in Egypt, has been vocal about his team’s ambition to surpass Nigeria’s past records in the tournament. The Flying Eagles have twice finished as runners-up, in 1989 and 2005, and have consistently been a force to be reckoned with at this level. The coach admitted to the team’s past struggles with goal-scoring but assured that significant work has been done to address this ahead of their group stage matches. The team’s first match will be against Norway on September 29, followed by Saudi Arabia on October 3, with their final group match against Colombia on October 5. For these young players, the tournament is not just about national pride; it is also a career-defining moment. With international scouts from top clubs around the world watching every move, a strong performance could be a springboard to a professional contract in Europe. This adds a personal element of pressure and motivation to the players, who are eager to make their mark on the grandest stage in youth football. The tournament will be held in four host cities across Chile: Santiago, Valparaíso, Talca, and Rancagua. All eyes will be on the Flying Eagles to see if they can finally end Nigeria’s long wait for a first-ever U-20 World Cup title.