Head coach of the Flying Eagles, Aliyu Zubairu, has expressed confidence in his team’s readiness to face Argentina in the Round of 16 at the ongoing 2025 FIFA U-20 World Cup in Santiago, Royal News reports.
The seven-time African champions will go head-to-head with the hosts on Wednesday, in what promises to be one of the most anticipated knockout fixtures of the tournament.
Argentina head into the encounter with a perfect record, having won all three of their group stage matches, while Nigeria advanced as one of the best third-placed teams after a tough group campaign.
Despite the daunting challenge of facing the South Americans on home soil, Zubairu remains optimistic about his side’s chances of progressing.
“Every game is a new challenge, and we’ll prepare with the same mentality — focus, discipline, and teamwork,”
The coach said after Nigeria’s qualification was confirmed.
“We respect Argentina, but it’s a challenge that must be overcome.
Nigeria will be hoping to replicate their feat from the last edition of the tournament, when they famously eliminated Argentina in the Round of 16.
With Zubairu’s young team showing flashes of resilience and tactical discipline so far, Wednesday’s encounter in Santiago could be another memorable chapter in Nigeria’s rich U-20 football history.
