Nigeria’s Flying Eagles head coach, Aliyu Zubairu, has played down any suggestion of rivalry-driven motivation ahead of his side’s clash with hosts Ghana in the opening match of the 2025 WAFU Zone B U20 Championship, Soccernet.ng reports.
While Zubairu admits the game against the Black Satellites is important, the Flying Eagles boss insists that the real focus is long-term preparation for September’s FIFA U20 World Cup.
The Flying Eagles, who are defending champions of the regional tournament, will take on Ghana at the Ghanaman Soccer Centre of Excellence in Prampram on Thursday, July 10. Benin completes the trio in Group A.
Speaking to journalists during the pre-match press conference, Zubairu was candid about the team’s priorities.
What did Flying Eagles coach Zubairu say?
“We don’t have any advantage over Ghana at all. Honestly, that’s not why we are here. We just want to know the level of our team and we begin to organise ourselves for the World Cup,” he said.
Zubairu further explained that the WAFU tournament, although not initially on the team’s calendar, offers a crucial window to evaluate his squad.
“For me, this tournament has come for Nigeria. It’ll offer us a good platform to prepare for the World Cup and that is what is important to us,” he added.
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The Flying Eagles only reconvened recently, with Zubairu admitting the team had to adapt quickly to the new timeline.
“We’re ready, but it’s really not the competition we are here for,” he revealed.
“We reconvened just a week ago because it was not the time for us to regroup and prepare for the World Cup, but we had to quickly reorganise because of this tournament. However, we are ready.”
Despite limited preparation, the coach remains confident in the character of his squad and their ability to rise to the occasion, especially against traditional rivals Ghana.
“We know the history between Ghana and Nigeria, and it has always been like that at whatever level,” Zubairu acknowledged.
“Even if it’s community football between Nigeria and Ghana anywhere, it’s always attractive because of the clean rivalry.”
Having beaten Ghana in the final of the last WAFU U20 Championship in Togo, Nigeria enter this edition with a title to defend but their sights are clearly set on bigger targets down the road.