WATCH THE VIDEO HERE The Flying Eagles kicked off their 2025 U-20 Africa Cup of Nations campaign with a 1-0 win over Tunisia at the 30 June Air Defence Stadium in Cairo, Footynaija.com reports. It was not the most dominant performance, but it was a solid start for Coach Aliyu Zubairu’s side. With three points in the bag, here are three important lessons from the match: Auwal Ibrahim was one of the players who impressed in a recent friendly against hosts Egypt, but he made a bigger statement in this opener with the only goal of the match, claiming all three points for Nigeria and rightly winning the man of the match award. His first-half strike came from a smart link-up with Odinaka Okoro and showed great composure in front of goal. Playing for Akwa United, Auwal may not be the most talked-about name in the squad, but his performance proved he could be one of Nigeria’s go-to players in this tournament. Wearing the captain’s armband again, Daniel Bameyi showed why he remains an important figure in this team. He marshalled the backline with calmness and kept Tunisia’s attacks at bay, especially in the second half when pressure increased. With 2023 U-20 World Cup experience and time with the Super Eagles under his belt, Bameyi’s presence added balance and assurance to the defence. While the result was positive, Nigeria could have made the scoreline more comfortable. There were chances in both halves that were not converted. If Nigeria wants to challenge for the trophy and secure World Cup qualification, they must be more ruthless in front of goal. Next up for the Flying Eagles is a tricky fixture against Morocco. Coach Zubairu will be hoping his boys build on this momentum and sharpen their attacking edge.1. Auwal Ibrahim Announces Himself on the Continental Stage
2. Daniel Bameyi’s Experience and Leadership Made a Difference
3. Flying Eagles Still Need to Be More Clinical
Three key takeaways from Nigeriaʼs U20 AFCON opener vs Tunisia
