Flying Eagles head coach, Aliyu Zubairu, has mentioned Nigeria are totally able to beat Senegal in Monday’s essential U20 AFCON quarterfinal match. The winner will qualify for each the semifinals and the 2025 FIFA U20 World Cup in Chile.
Nigeria reached the quarterfinals after a hard-fought 2-2 draw with Kenya of their remaining Group D sport. They’ll now face Senegal’s Lion Cubs on the Suez Canal Stadium in Ismailia.
Senegal booked their place within the knockout stage by ending second of their group after beating DR Congo 2-0.
Talking after Nigeria’s first coaching session in Ismailia on Saturday, Zubairu mentioned the match is essential and the workforce is aware of what’s at stake.
“We all know what to anticipate. It’s a huge sport as a result of the winner goes to the World Cup,” he mentioned. “It’s like a remaining for us, and with the robust rivalry between Nigeria and Senegal, we should keep targeted and disciplined from begin to end. That’s precisely what we’ll do.”
The match continues the fierce soccer rivalry between the 2 nations at youth stage. Senegal defeated Nigeria 1-0 within the group stage of the 2023 U20 AFCON and went on to win the match.
Nevertheless, Nigeria has completely happy reminiscences too. In 2015, the Flying Eagles beat Senegal 3-1 within the opening match and later defeated them 1-0 within the remaining to win their seventh title.
With a spot on the World Cup on the road, Zubairu is hoping his workforce can repeat that success in opposition to Senegal and transfer one step nearer to continental glory.