Flying Eagles Soar Past Tunisia in U-20 AFCON Opener
CAIRO, Egypt – May 1, 2025
Nigeria’s Flying Eagles kicked off their quest for an eighth CAF U-20 Africa Cup of Nations title with a hard-fought 1-0 victory over Tunisia in a tense Group B opener at Cairo’s 30 June Air Defence Stadium. A first-half strike by Auwal Ibrahim proved decisive, as the seven-time champions extended their dominance over North African opponents in youth tournaments.
Match Highlights
- Decisive Goal:
- 38th minute: Akwa United forward Auwal Ibrahim slotted home a clinical finish from Odinaka Okoro’s precise assist after a fluid team move.
- The goal capped Nigeria’s early dominance, with the Flying Eagles creating multiple chances through midfielders Divine Oliseh and Clinton Jephta.
- Defensive Resilience:
- Goalkeeper Ifeanyi Harcourt denied Tunisia’s Omar Ben Ali in the 87th minute with a crucial save to preserve the lead6.
- Centre-backs Daniel Bameyi and Adamu Maigari anchored a disciplined backline against Tunisia’s late onslaught.
Key Moments
- Controversial Penalty Overturned:
- A 72nd-minute penalty awarded to Nigeria after Mendos Richson was fouled was overturned by VAR, keeping the scoreline narrow.
- Physical Battle:
- Six yellow cards were issued as both teams engaged in a midfield slugfest, with Tunisia’s Anis Doubal and Nigeria’s Kparobo Arierhi leading aggressive charges.
Historical Context
- Head-to-Head Dominance:
- Nigeria now holds four wins in six U-20 encounters against Tunisia, including a 4-0 thrashing in the 2023 third-place match.
- The Flying Eagles remain unbeaten in eight of their last ten tournament openers.
- Tournament Goals:
- Nigeria aims to finish in the top four to secure a spot at the 2025 FIFA U-20 World Cup in Chile.
Coach and Player Reactions
- Aliyu Zubairu (Head Coach):
- Praised the team’s “confidence and momentum” after a pre-tournament friendly win over Egypt5.
- Emphasized the need to “stay focused” ahead of Sunday’s clash against Morocco.
- Auwal Ibrahim (Goalscorer):
- Credited Okoro’s “perfect pass” and the team’s attacking chemistry for the decisive goal
