Former Super Eagles midfielder and assistant coach Fatai Amoo has warned that Nigeria’s U-20 side faces a formidable test when they meet Senegal in the quarterfinals of the 2025 U-20 Africa Cup of Nations on Monday, Footynaija.com reports.

The high-stakes clash at the Suez Canal Stadium in Ismailia will see the winner book a ticket to the FIFA U-20 World Cup in Chile.

And Amoo, who guided Nigeria’s youth teams in the past, is under no illusions about the size of the task facing the Flying Eagles.

“It will be a very, very difficult game,” Amoo told Sports247. “But given our level of defence in this year’s competition, so far so good, they may somehow make it through.”

Senegal have enjoyed the upper hand in recent encounters between the two nations. They eliminated Nigeria with a 2-1 win at the 2019 U-20 World Cup in Poland, followed by a 2-0 victory in WAFU B qualifiers and a 1-0 win at the last U-20 AFCON in 2023.

“The last time we met Senegal, they showed us their quality; but I don’t know whether they still have the consistency and confidence we saw in them at the last U-20 AFCON,” Amoo added. “In any case, it’s going to be the toughest game our team has gone through in this year’s competition.”

Aliyu Zubairu’s side reached the last eight after finishing second in Group B, with five points from a 1-0 win over Tunisia, a draw against Morocco, and a 2-2 draw with Kenya. Senegal, defending champions, also were Group C runners-up following a 2-0 victory over DR Congo.

Kick-off is at 1.30pm Nigerian time on Monday, with live coverage available on Startimes, DSTV and CAF TV.

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