Aliyu Zubairu, the head coach of the Flying Eagles, expressed his disappointment following his team’s narrow 1-0 defeat to Norway in their opening fixture of the 2025 FIFA U-20 World Cup held in Talca on Monday. The seven-time African champions were edged out by Bjorn Johansen’s squad, with the decisive goal coming early in the match.
Norway’s captain, Rasmus Holten, converted a penalty in the ninth minute to secure the victory. Despite Nigeria’s dominance in ball possession, the team struggled to break down Norway’s steadfast defense. Notably, forward Kparobo Ariehi’s shot rattled the post in the opening stages, and later in the game, Tana Maigana’s effort also struck the crossbar, highlighting the team’s misfortune in front of goal.
“The players gave their all on the pitch and left no stone unturned in their pursuit of a win,” Zubairu remarked during the post-match press conference. “We generated numerous opportunities from the start, but our shots kept hitting the woodwork. It seemed luck was not on our side today.”
Looking ahead, the Flying Eagles are preparing to face Saudi Arabia on Thursday, a match Zubairu insists is crucial for their campaign. “Controlling possession alone doesn’t translate to wins. Had just one of our chances gone in, the result would have been different. That’s the nature of football, and we must move forward,” he said. “Our focus now is on the next game, where we aim to secure all three points.”
