Head coach of the Flying Eagles, Aliyu Zubairu, has expressed that the team’s primary goal at the upcoming U-20 Africa Cup of Nations is to secure qualification for the World Cup. Zubairu emphasized the importance of focusing on the bigger picture and highlighted the challenge of being placed in a tough group alongside Egypt, Morocco, and South Africa. Despite the strength of their opponents, Zubairu believes that facing such high-caliber teams is a blessing in disguise for the team’s development.

“If we want to get the ticket to the World Cup, we can’t avoid anything. Being in the same group as Egypt and South Africa at this stage is a blessing,” Zubairu said. “We know they are footballing nations that we need to respect at any level, and it’s a challenge to the team in its entirety.”

The tournament is set to commence on April 27 in Cairo, Egypt, and it will serve as the African qualification event for the U-20 World Cup in Chile. The four semifinalists at the tournament will automatically earn their places in the global event. Zubairu’s team is fully aware of the importance of the competition and the need to perform at their best to secure a spot in Chile.

As part of their preparations for the tournament, the Flying Eagles have moved their training base to Abuja, where the camp officially opened on Monday. Since then, the squad has been engaged in intensive training sessions to fine-tune their skills and strategies ahead of the crucial tournament.

Zubairu, who led Nigeria to successfully defend their WAFU B U-20 Championship crown in Togo last October, has called up a total of 35 players to the camp. The squad consists of 3 goalkeepers, 8 defenders, 10 midfielders, and 14 attackers, all fighting for a place in the final squad for the U-20 Africa Cup of Nations.

The technical crew is expected to reduce the list of players in the coming weeks as the team continues its preparations for the tournament. The Flying Eagles will not only be aiming to qualify for the World Cup but also to make a strong statement on the African continent, reinforcing their reputation as one of Africa’s top teams at the youth level.