Nigeria Flying Eagles are hoping to squeeze in one more friendly match before the start of the 2025 Africa U-20 Cup of Nations, with a proposed clash against Zambia currently under discussion. However, tight scheduling at the tournament in Egypt could scupper those plans.
Aliyu Zubairu’s boys arrived in Cairo on Sunday, and they wasted no time getting into action. Just two days after touching down, the Flying Eagles faced the host nation Egypt in a warm-up game at the Cairo International Stadium — and made an early statement of intent with a 2-1 victory.
With the competition kicking off this weekend, Nigeria are looking to arrange one final tune-up match to fine-tune their preparations. According to Flying Eagles media officer Shariff Abdallah, Zambia are the preferred opponents for what would be a crucial final test before the tournament begins.
“We are still in talks with Zambia for another friendly,” Abdallah said. “The boys did well against Egypt and have settled down well in Cairo. We have prepared well for this competition, and hopefully, we can win the trophy at the end of the day.”
Nigeria Flying Eagles last lifted the U20 AFCON trophy in 2015, when a pair of goals from Isaac Promise secured a 2-0 win over Egypt in the final. Since then, the Flying Eagles have endured a frustrating wait for continental glory. Now, Zubairu’s squad is aiming to end that drought and extend Nigeria’s record haul to eight U20 African titles.
Scheduling Nightmare Could Derail Zambia Friendly
While a Nigeria vs. Zambia warm-up sounds exciting on paper, the logistics behind it are proving complicated.
Nigeria have been drawn into Group B of the tournament, alongside Tunisia, Morocco, and Kenya. Zambia, meanwhile, are in Group A, which features Egypt, Sierra Leone, Tanzania, and South Africa. Unusually, Group A has five teams instead of four, meaning Zambia will have a heavier match schedule compared to most other teams.
Zambia are set to open their tournament against Sierra Leone on Sunday, April 27, at the Suez Canal Stadium. They then have a six-day gap before their second match against Egypt on May 3. As a result, the only realistic date for a friendly with Nigeria would be April 29 — sandwiched right between Zambia’s first and second group games.
However, that date is far from ideal. It would come just two days after a competitive fixture and just two days before another important group-stage clash. Nigeria, meanwhile, kick off their own AFCON campaign against Tunisia on May 1, meaning their window for a friendly is also extremely tight.
Given the strain it could place on both teams, the Nigeria-Zambia match could be called off unless organizers find a way to tweak the schedule or shorten playing time to reduce fatigue risks.
Nigeria Could Seek Alternatives
If a friendly against Zambia proves too difficult to organize, Nigeria may look elsewhere for their final tune-up.
One possibility would be finding a sparring partner from Group C, which features defending champions Senegal, Ghana, DR Congo, and the Central African Republic. Group C teams are not scheduled to begin their matches until May 2, giving them more free time between April 27 and April 29 to arrange friendlies.
Either way, the Flying Eagles are determined to get in as much preparation as possible before the real battles begin.
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There is a genuine sense of optimism around this Flying Eagles squad. The 2-1 win over Egypt showed glimpses of the attacking flair and organization that Nigeria will need if they are to go deep into the competition.
Under Aliyu Zubairu’s leadership, the team has been molded into a physically strong, quick-moving unit that can transition smoothly from defense to attack. Several players have already caught the eye during training camps, with a few overseas-based talents complementing the largely homegrown squad.
Nigeria Flying Eagles journey will begin officially against Tunisia at the 30 June Stadium in Cairo. The Flying Eagles will also face tough group-stage tests against Morocco and Kenya — both nations boasting growing youth programs.
Victory at this year’s U20 AFCON would not only bring glory but also serve as a launchpad to the FIFA U20 World Cup, as the tournament also doubles as qualifiers for the global competition. Only the top four teams at the U20 AFCON will advance to the World Cup.
Conclusion
While a final friendly against Zambia would offer a great opportunity to polish tactical details, Nigeria Flying Eagles might have to accept that time is not on their side. Regardless of whether a warm-up match happens, Zubairu’s squad has already shown enough quality to suggest they can challenge strongly for the title.
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The countdown is on. Nigeria’s quest for an eighth U20 African crown is about to begin — and with or without an extra friendly match, expectations are sky-high.
