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Flying Eagles head coach Aliyu Zubairu has underlined the importance of Nigeria’s final Group B match against Kenya at the ongoing U20 Africa Cup of Nations, stressing that a win could offer strategic advantages for his team, Footynaija.com reports.
The former El-Kanemi Warriors manager believes a victory in Wednesday’s showdown would not only see Nigeria top the group but also keep them based in Cairo for the quarter-finals — a scenario he says the entire team is keen to secure.
“One thing that’s common among the technical crew and the players is the desire to win tomorrow’s match so we can top the group — because of the little advantage that comes with it,” Zubairu said during the pre-match press conference.
“If not for anything, topping the group might allow us to remain here in Cairo. That idea is common among everybody, and we know why we just have to go all out for the win tomorrow.”
It’s Matchday today;
— Dagashotz (@DagaShotz) May 7, 2025
Nigeria U20 vs Kenya U20
Date: Today, Wednesday 7th May, 2025.
Time: 4:00 pm (WAT)
Venue ️: 30 June Stadium Cairo, Egypt. #DagashotzInEgypt | #U20AFCON | #FlyingEagles pic.twitter.com/HHYVDERgFp
Nigeria currently sit second in Group B with four points from two matches, while Kenya are bottom without a point after two defeats.
A win for the Flying Eagles would not only guarantee their place in the knockout stages but also give them a realistic chance of finishing as group winners, depending on the result between the other group opponents.
Zubairu was also quick to warn his players against any complacency despite Kenya’s winless run, urging full focus and intensity from the first whistle.
“We’re not relaxing at all. If you understand the history of tournaments, any team that hasn’t gotten any points is actually more difficult to play than even those that have,” he said.
“So, if we think Kenya will be easy tomorrow, we’d be deceiving ourselves. That’s what we’ve been preaching to the boys — that they should not underestimate or underrate Kenya.”
He added: “They’re not a bad side. The fact that they don’t have any points doesn’t reduce anything from them. We’re going to approach the match with total seriousness to make sure we get the job done.”
Victory for Nigeria would take them a step closer to not only lifting the continental title but also securing one of Africa’s qualifying spots at the 2025 FIFA U20 World Cup in Chile.
