Nigeria eye Zambia friendly ahead of U20 AFCON opener but tight calendar threatens clash

Nigeria’s Flying Eagles are looking to arrange a friendly match against Zambia as they step up preparations for the 2025 Africa U-20 Cup of Nations, which kicks off this weekend in Egypt, Soccernet.ng reports.

Aliyu Zubairu’s team touched down in Cairo on Sunday ahead of the biennial tournament and made an immediate impression by defeating hosts Egypt 2-1 in a friendly at the Cairo International Stadium on Tuesday.

There are now plans for one final tune-up match before the competition gets underway.

“We are still in talks with Zambia for another friendly,” Flying Eagles media officer Shariff Abdallah told Completesports.

“The boys did well against Egypt and have settled down well in Cairo. We have prepared well for this competition, hopefully, we can win the trophy at the end of the day.”

The Flying Eagles have not won the African Championship in ten years, last reaching the final in 2015 where a pair of Isaac Promise goals helped the team defeat Egypt 2-0 in Benin Republic.

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For AFCON 2025, Nigeria, seven-time champions of the competition, have been drawn into Group B alongside Tunisia, Morocco, and Kenya.

Zambia, meanwhile, will feature in Group A with Egypt, Sierra Leone, Tanzania and South Africa.

Interestingly, Group A features five teams instead of four, meaning every side in the group will play more matches, slightly complicating Zambia’s schedule.

While a Nigeria-Zambia friendly is still on the table, scheduling challenges mean it will not take place immediately.

Zambia open their U20 AFCON campaign against Sierra Leone on Sunday, April 27, at the Suez Canal Stadium (kick-off 6 pm). Later that night, Egypt face South Africa at Cairo International Stadium.

After their opener, Zambia will enjoy a six-day break before facing Egypt again on May 3, leaving April 29 as the only realistic window for a friendly with Nigeria — two days after Zambia’s opener and two days before Nigeria’s own first match against Tunisia on May 1 at the 30 June Stadium.

If logistics prove too difficult, Nigeria could turn their attention to an opponent from Group C, which features defending champions Senegal, Ghana, DR Congo, and the Central African Republic.

Group C’s first set of matches are scheduled for May 2, offering a more flexible window between April 27 and April 29 for a potential final warm-up game.

Either way, Zubairu’s Flying Eagles are determined to sharpen their edge before the tournament begins, as they aim to bring home a record-extending eighth continental title.