Nigeria and Kenya will face off at the Total Energies CAF Under-20 Africa Cup of Nations in their final Group B match at the 30 June Stadium in Cairo by 4:00 PM tomorrow, Soccernet.ng reports.
The Flying Eagles need just a point to qualify for the quarter-finals and could top the group with if they secure three points, provided the other Group B match between Morocco and Tunisia ends in a draw or a Tunisia victory.
Nigeria have never played against Kenya in the AFCON U-20 history. While the Rising Stars have nothing to play for, they’ll be putting on a prideful display to end the tournament on a high as they’ll be going no further.
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Match preview: Nigeria vs Morocco
Nigeria won their opening group game against Tunisia by a tender goal difference while they drew against Morocco in their second game.
Kenya, on the other hand, lost both of their group matches – 3-2 to Morocco and 3-1 to Tunisia. They scored first in both games but failed to secure a win.
Nigeria have the best defence in the group, conceding zero goals in two games, while they have the worst attack in the group, scoring the least goals (one).
Additionally, the Flying Eagles have the lowest shot conversion rate in Group C at just 6.25%, while Kenya has a rate of 14.29% – the second highest in the group, behind Tunisia (17.65%).
Defensively, Nigeria have won 27 tackles, while Kenya are top of the group with 34.
Kenya leads Group C in shots on target with 11, while Nigeria has managed just seven—tied for the fewest with Tunisia.
From these numbers, one can tell Kenya are the more conservative team while Nigeria are more pragmatic in their approach, and this could be the football we get to see on display tomorrow.
Players to Watch
Nigeria: Daniel Bameyi
The 19-year-old had 75 touches against Morocco – the most by any player in that match, and he was rock solid in defense.
Originally a right-back by trade, the Bayelsa United defender put in a true captain’s performance against Morocco. He was superb in the air, winning aerial duels while making clearances to thwart the threats the Atlas Cubs brought forward.
Kenya: Lawrence Ouma
The 19-year-old has found the back of the net in the two games he’s played at the AFCON U-20 competition. While the Flying Eagles are yet to concede in Egypt, they have to be wary of the threat the MOFA Academy striker poses.
Coach’s tactical approach
Aliyu Zubairu (Nigeria) prefers a flexible 4-3-3 or 4-2-3-1 setup with high pressing and fast transitions.
His team is drilled to win second balls, press opponents into mistakes, and break with pace down the wings. Nigeria’s forwards are given the license to roam, while the double pivot in midfield shields the back four and dictates the tempo.
Anthony Akhulia (Kenya) plays a similar 4-2-3-1 formation like Aliyu Zubairu, but with a slight tweak.
The front four players play with more freedom, and flair, expressing their attacking gifts on the pitch. While the Flying Eagles defend from the front foot, the Kenyan team leave seven men behind to defend with a slight gap that allows the front four to hold their forte.
Match details
- Fixture: Nigeria U-20 vs Kenya U-20
- Tournament: TotalEnergies CAF U-20 Africa Cup of Nations, Egypt 2025
- Date: Wednesday, May 7, 2025
- Kick-off: 4:00 pm (local time)
- Venue: 30 June Air Defence Stadium, Cairo, Egypt