Head coach of the Flying Eagles, Aliyu Zubairu, has stated that the primary objective at the upcoming U-20 Africa Cup of Nations is to secure qualification for the World Cup.
Drawn alongside Egypt, Morocco, and South Africa, Zubairu acknowledged the quality of their opponents but emphasized that the team must embrace the test.
“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 kick off on April 27 in Cairo, Egypt, and will serve as the African qualifying event for the U-20 World Cup in Chile.
The four semifinalists at the tournament will automatically book their spots at the global showpiece.
As part of preparations, the seven-time African champions have relocated their training base to Abuja, where the camp officially opened on Monday.
The team has since begun intensive training sessions ahead of the tournament.
Zubairu, who led Nigeria to successfully defend their WAFU B U-20 Championship crown in Togo last October, has invited a total of 35 players to camp.
The squad includes 3 goalkeepers, 8 defenders, 10 midfielders, and 14 attackers, all vying for spots in the final squad.
The technical crew is expected to trim the list in the coming weeks as the team continues its build-up.
The Flying Eagles will be hoping to not only qualify for the World Cup but also make a strong impression on the continent once again.
